Department of Audiology

Noise Pollution Q & A

What is noise?
Noise can be defined as any unwanted sound and when loud enough, can damage your hearing permanently. So noise can range from a shotgun blast to recreational music that you would listen to at home or in your car, such as classical music. There is a general trade off between the loudness and the length of time exposed to the sound/noise. The louder the sound, the shorter the time you should be around that noise before it causes damage. Aside from destroying your hearing, noise can be a source of tinnitus (a sound heard in your head when no sound is actually present), annoyance, stress and interference with communication. The tinnitus can actually become constant and permanent.

Most people think of a gun blast as loud, but classical music can’t damage hearing?
The point here is that any sound, if loud enough, can damage your hearing. Whether you like listening to the Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin or Beethoven, if music is played loud enough it can harm you hearing – permanently. From the toys children play with, to walkmans or car stereos, to lawnmowers or chainsaws, to factory noise and other recreational hobbies (wood-workers) and professions (pilots), all have the potential to have a permanent effect on hearing if not properly controlled.

Can one exposure to a loud sound harm your ears forever?
Yes. There are three types of noise-related hearing loss. First, it can be temporary. The damage is done slowly and will often come back after a rest from the noise such as we all have experienced going to rock concerts. Secondly, it can then progress to a permanent loss over time if the noise/music is loud enough and the exposure time is long enough. Finally, there can be a sudden permanent hearing loss if there is exposure to a brief but very intense sound.

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