The Deadly Nature Of Noise……

Noise can be a loud, unpleasant, unexpected or undesired aspect of living. The presence of sound through the stethoscope of a physician is an unmistakeable sign of life and the absence of such the unmistakeable sign of death. A beating heart creates sound, not noise. Noise pollution and carelessness have resulted in my personal reliance on cutting edge hearing assistance necessary for normal discourse in life. Read on and I’ll share my limited knowledge of noise, considered the second biggest environmental threat to our health behind the pollution of the air we breathe.

We accept noise as the necessary byproduct of living in an industrial world. We pay little attention to its effects on our lives, failing to note that noise contributes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and overall mental health. Noise also is the single biggest contributor to hearing loss, something that my experience with artillery, sporting arms, handguns, concerts at our State Fair, traffic on busy highways and power tools has exacerbated significantly. Today, I damn my carelessness and pay the price with a set of the finest, digital hearing aids that exist. In short, I did not respect noise and noise returned the favor by disrespecting me. It is no wonder that in the “golden years” I prefer the solitude of a quiet river or deep lake cove to the hustle of urban life. Sound, from which noise is generated is, as mentioned, an indicator of life. There is a difference between the soft drone of Appalachian instrumental music, the voice of a child or the burbling of a river shoal and a late model Mustang or raucous growl of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. That difference is vitally important, but we don’t seem to care. It is at this point in life that I have developed a deep appreciation for sound and a hatred of noise.

European researchers have discovered that noise contributes to some 48,000 new cases of cardiac disease a year and negatively impacts the sleep of in excess of 6.5 million Europeans. In America, the last meaningful research on our love affair with noise pollution was done in the ‘80’s. We are too busy worrying about global warming, gender confusion and waging war to be concerned with noise and it’s impact.

What are we, as civilized denizens of the world doing about this problem? The late Amar Bose, an electrical engineer and researcher founded a little start up back in 1964 to tackle the practical implications of sound. His company, now owned mostly by MIT is at the fore front of noise cancelling technology and sound management. Bose sales are now in excess of 3.5 billion annually. The signs that we are concerned are everywhere from sound walls on our highway system to the new generation of silencers for personal firearms. The headphones I flew with were “noise cancelling” as are the headphones I wear at the gym each day. I don’t pick up a power tool without reaching for noise mitigation technology. Airplanes are required to rely on noise abatement procedures at major airports in an effort to curtail the damage sound causes. Still we are fascinated by noise. Automobiles and motorcycles rely on noise as a selling feature. We love our fireworks, each shell burst another nail in the coffin of overall health. We attend concerts and are blasted out of our shoes by decibel levels that are as damaging as physical blows to the head.

Here is the take away. Learn to appreciate the occasional sound of silence. Make it a point to understand the difference between sound and noise. Treat your hearing with the same respect you reserve for the things dear to your life. Embrace noise cancelling technology. As much as possible, return to nature where gentle sound is the norm. Accept the realization that noise represents a danger to your well being, whether it be a siren, gunshot, circular saw, or the overpowering roar of a car modified to make more noise.

Sound is a beautiful thing, indicating the presence of life. Noise hastens our demise and leads to everlasting silence, the absence of life. Believe it!

Have a great week!

SR