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1. Home -- Limit second-hand sound. Indirect TV, music, radio, motors, etc. are
distracting, require energy for auditory processing, and can diminish mental focus and deep rest. Gentle classical music is a good filter for
noise pollution.
2. Eating -- The best sounds for human digestion are the sounds of friends and family.
From lips to intestines, intricate internal rhythms are simultaneously working. External periodic rhythms can speed up or slow down the delicate digestive process. If listening to music while eating, non-syncopated sound is your best bet. Try solo guitar, classical duos, or light jazz.
3. Restaurants -- Many newspapers now rate the sound environment of restaurants. If
you have to talk above a normal level to be heard, you are stressing your system and wasting your money. Better to sit in the bar and drink.
4. Movies -- New digital sound has been discovered by Hollywood and they keep
making it louder for dramatic effect. If you are uncomfortable with the volume levels, complain to theater management. You should not have to wear earplugs to enjoy a movie.
5. Headphones -- Because of proximity to the inner ear, keep your volume down.
Limit headphone usage to one hour at a time and then let your ears rest. Rule of thumb: if you can hear music from another person's headphones, it is too loud. Using headphones when exercising can be extremely dangerous to the ear. In all cases, be extremely careful with the volume; as the ear adapts, the impulse is to keep turning it up.
6. Sports/Working Out -- Music with a strong beat is great for the endorphin rush.
However, be aware that your auditory mechanism is most vulnerable when you are exercising because most of the blood is directed to the cardiovascular function. Therefore, loud volumes in aerobic studios are quite detrimental. Likewise, auditory damage from headphones while exercising is a sad surprise to those trying to stay healthy and fit. If you wear headphones while jogging or exercising, keep the volume very low.
7. Office -- Share the common sound-space. Be courteous to your co-workers and their
needs. Use music that will support a clear focus and a calm environment. Alternate with quiet.
8. Industrial -- Work sound-space is regulated by OSHA standards. If ongoing noise
levels exceed 85 dB, you should be wearing protective devices such as ear plugs or ear mufflers. Occupations most at risk: construction, aviation, music, gardening. For info: www. voshaslc.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/index.html.
9. Car -- Use music that will keep you calm and alert. If you are tired, employ faster
rhythms to keep you awake. If you are agitated, a classical adagio de-stresses. Talk radio can alleviate driving irritation by engaging the mind.
10. Airplane -- I often wear earplugs for part of a long flight. This seems to cut fatigue
on the other end. Given that the brain catalogs incoming sounds, it is constantly processing the sound of the jet engines, crying babies, inane conversation, and loud stewardess announcements. A little sonic distance goes a long way in this situation.
11. Music events -- Love it and listen for your whole life. Rule of thumb: if your ears
ring after listening, it is too loud and you are causing irreparable damage. Always have a pair of earplugs in your pocket. Remember, most event sound technicians are half deaf.
12. Learning/Focusing on Task -- The right music can accelerate learning and
enhance concentration. Body relaxed/mind alert is the winning combination. Pick music that is 50-70 beats per minute (supports relaxed heart rate) with upper register sounds. Baroque music and Gregorian chants are great for this purpose.
13. Tone -- Higher sound frequencies (violins, flutes, trumpets) tend to 'charge' or
energize the nervous system, lower bass sounds may 'discharge.'
14. Rhythm -- Fast periodic rhythms will speed up the major body pulses (heart, brain
waves, and breath.) Slow rhythms will slow the body pulses. Therefore, if you want to rest or sleep, pick music that is mid-range in tone and slow in rhythm.
15. Children -- Recurring ear infections are often a precursor to learning disabilities or
other neurodevelopmental delays. Watch for food allergies as a cause. If your child has an ear infection more than once, take strong notice and action to remedy. Resources: The National Academy for Child Development (www.nacd.org) or The House Institute (www.hei.org).
16. Seniors -- Sound stimulation auditory retraining is a process that enhances what
hearing remains. Based on the work of French Ear-Nose-Throat specialist, Alfred Tomatis, M.D., this is accomplished by listening to specially treated classical music for 15-30 minutes a day. The Listening Program is an eight-week at-home program used by seniors across America. (www.advancedbrain.com)
17. Give your ears a rest -- Alternate quiet and noisy activities. Don't go directly to a
rock club after a loud sports event; wait a few hours before going out on a snowmobile if you work at a noisy job site.
18. Ear Protection -- Ear plugs can be found in any drugstore for under one dollar.
Don't let your kids go to a rock concert without them. Earplugs are made of foam, silicone, or wax with noise-reduction levels ranging from 20-30 dB. Cotton in your ears is a nice concept, but it won't stop sound waves from attacking your ears. Ear-mufflers (not earmuffs for warmth) are special ear protectors specifically designed for protection from loud sound. Available in sporting goods stores, they tend to last longer than earplugs, may afford better protection. Recommended for use with power tools, lawn mowers, etc.
19. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss -- NIHL contributes to 75% of all hearing loss in
America. Too many protracted loud sounds damage the inner ear. The delicate cilia hair cells cannot be repaired.
20. Stress-Induced Auditory Dysfunction -- According to experts, poor listening
can begin at any age and for any number of reasons. It might result from stress, a health problem, accident, or major lifestyle disruption. Among the symptoms of a degraded auditory function is disorganized neurological function (i.e., difficulty in holding focus) and/or emotional over-reactivity. SIAD can be addressed with auditory retraining programs. Resource: Advanced Brain Technologies (www.advancedbrain.com).
21. Know Your Sonic Rights --
The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 1137, Montpelier, VT 05601-1137
Tel: (888) 200-8332
Email: npc@nonoise.org
Web: www.nonoise.org.
NPC has a library of resources and experience assisting individuals and groups opposed to noise pollution, and access to sound level monitoring equipment that individuals often do not have. They assist with testimony and comments presented to planning commissions, zoning boards, city councils, and judges. They can also get you in touch with experts in the field and others working on similar projects in your local area or nationally.
(c) 2001 Joshua Leeds. All Rights Reserved.
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