Volume 118
June 29, 2022
  • Safer Soundscapes, Sustainable Hearing™
  • Adverse Effects
  • European Statistics
  • NIOSH Sound Meter Application
  • Decibel Illustration
  • Closer to Home

In last week’s issue we purposely introduced Safer Soundscapes, Sustainable Hearing™ theme.

Now, we delve deeper into the landmark UN Environment Programme “Frontiers 2022: Noises, Blazes and Mismatches, Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern” report.

To reiterate, “The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines a soundscape as ‘[the] acoustic environment as perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people, in context.’ In other words, soundscape encompasses the way people perceive, experience and respond to the full range of sounds in a place at a given time.” 1

How noisy are cities? According to this landmark report: “The adverse effects of noise on public health are manifold and are a growing global concern.
They cover a broad spectrum of outcomes, ranging from mild and temporary distress to severe and chronic physical impairment. Night-time noise disturbs sleep and affects well-being the following day. Estimates suggest that in Europe 22 million and 6.5 million people suffer from chronic noise annoyance and sleep disturbance, respectively. The elderly, pregnant woman and shift workers are among those at risk of noise-induced sleep disturbance. Noise-induced awakenings can trigger a range of physiological and psychological stress responses because sleep is necessary for hormonal regulation and cardiovascular functioning. There is increasing evidence that traffic noise exposure is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as elevated blood pressure, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes. A conservative estimate indicates that long-term exposure to environmental noise contributes to 48,000 new cases of ischemic heart disease and causes 12,000 premature deaths annually in Europe.” 1
With these European statistics provoking thought, imagine comparable North American metrics. If 10s of millions of people are negatively affected in our environs, it is imperative for hearing care experts to proactively educate and reputably advocate.

To help explain Noise Measurement, this nifty Decibel (dB) illustration is featured. After all, to achieve Safer Soundscapes, we must define and monitor them.
To raise awareness, encourage prevention efforts and empower change for the better, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Sound Level Meter App is available to download on mobile iOS devices for measuring workplace sound levels. By combining advanced features which detect and assess sound levels, workers can proactively raise evidence-based concerns that promote conservation protocols. Responsible parties will reduce noisy risk factors by learning about and utilizing this technology application:
Closer to home and motivated by Sustainable Hearing ambitions, conservation advocates encourage:

  • Being aware which environmental noises may be hazardous, then telling family and friends
  • Wearing higher quality and properly fit protective devices when participating in loud activities
  • Quickly distancing from loud noises which are unavoidable
  • Protecting the ears of children in vulnerable scenarios, beginning at early ages
  • Consistently getting evidence-based hearing exams to evaluate type and degree of loss
While hearing care professionals are intently focused on explaining Ears Collect, Brains Connect™ sound processing, it is an interesting twist that Amplifying Your Impact™ in NIHL realms may be best achieved by keeping things quieter. Throughout medical case history conversations, it makes sense to discover what noisy risks folks are experiencing in their circle of life. How loud for how long is a vital query.

Indeed, there is a delicate balance between silence being beneficial and being lonely. It is compassionate professionals like you who will strike it best.
During the season when Independence Day is celebrated, educate those entrusted in your care to better understand how to free themselves from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). By seeing you for periodic exams which provide essential status reports on their hearing acuities, measurable changes can be tracked. Ideally, they count on your sound advice on how to avoid irreversible hair cell damage and hear safely for years to come. While fireworks are once a year, preserving healthy hearing should be their daily pursuit. In reality, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Bruce Essman
CEO
High Definition Impressions (HDI)



314.276.7392

View Previous Issue by Clicking on Link Below:
©HIGH DEFINITION IMPRESSIONS (HDI) 2004-2022
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WARNING: Intellectual property contained in this email including HealthScapes® is the exclusive property of High Definition Impressions (HDI) and intended solely for viewing purposes.This intellectual property cannot be reproduced in any way without the expressed written consent of HDI. Any disclosure, copying, use, or distribution of the information or designs included on this website is strictly prohibited.