Noise

To most of us, loud noises signify sounds that we do not want to hear.

What are the possible health effects?

Most people find too much noise very annoying. Over time, high levels of noise can affect your quality of life, can be harmful to your health, and may lead to hearing loss. As homes and communities become more crowded, environmental noise levels increase.

It is important to note that if you use firearms for hunting or target practice regularly, you are at increased risk for permanent hearing loss, whether immediate or gradual. The impact of the noise on your hearing can be reduced by wearing ear plugs.

Children may have a stress response to loud noise which in turn might have a negative effect on children's learning and language development. It may also disturb motivation and concentration, and may result in reduced memory and ability to carry out tasks.

Consequences of exposure to loud noise include temporary or permanent hearing loss and ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus). Noise may also affect your ability to have a normal conversation, enjoy leisure activities, get a good night's sleep, or do work that needs thought and concentration. A lack of sleep deprives the body and brain of time needed to rest and heal. Over time, lack of sleep due to noise exposure can lead to stress, anxiety, and high blood pressure.

Common sources of high levels of noise that may pose a risk to health include:

• Personal music players used with headphones or ear buds
• Badly maintained snowmobiles or four wheelers.
• Gunfire, both over the short and long-term.
• Toys, especially noisy toys that may be held too close to a child's ear or that a child may use in ways that are not according to the manufacturer's "recommended use" instructions.

Tips - What can you do?

• Limit the amount of time you spend on noisy leisure activities, or wear protective gear (such as ear plugs).
• Use hearing protection gear such as ear plugs while hunting.
• Talk to your children about keeping the volume of their personal music players, at enjoyable, but safe levels. If someone a metre away must shout to be understood, the sound level of the music is probably higher than 85 decibels and may be hazardous.
• Give your ears time to recover if you have been exposed to loud noise and experienced temporary hearing loss or ringing or buzzing in your ears.
• Buy toys that do not have loud sound effects.