Living in the city has its perks, but the city comes with drawbacks, too. Noise is one of those downsides. Noise is a constant companion in Toronto. Some experts in urban noise pollution have argued that the constant exposure to low levels of urban noise is not just annoying, but can lead to anxiety and depression as well. Exposure to loud noises or constant noises can also damage your hearing.
Your hearing health is our priority at Toronto Hearing Consultants. That includes hearing exams, hearing aid services, and providing hearing health tips for all ages. Not only do we provide hearing exams, diagnoses for hearing loss, and treatment plans that include hearing aids, but we can also help you protect your hearing health proactively. Explore Toronto Hearing’s services if you’re concerned that you are living with hearing loss or want to protect your hearing health proactively.
The Impact of Urban Noise Pollution on Hearing Health
If you’ve ever been standing on the corner while a streetcar screeches its way through a turn or walked past a construction site where a worker was using a jackhammer, you know just how ear-piercingly loud Toronto can be.
Noise pollution is any unwanted sound that can affect your health and well-being. In the city, there are countless sources of noise pollution with varying degrees of risk to your hearing:
- Construction noise, which has become an increasingly important issue as development and major infrastructure projects have accelerated across Toronto.
- Traffic noise, which is particularly a concern for residents who live near expressways and major arterials.
- Transit noise produced by buses, streetcars, and trains.
- Concerts.
- Bar and restaurant patios.
- Outdoor speakers.
- Vanity noise from vehicle modifications.
- EMS sirens.
- Lawn mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and snow blowers.
- Motorcycles.
- Heavy equipment or machinery at work.
- Overhead airplane and helicopter traffic.
Protecting yourself from urban noise can be tough, but we’re here to help.
Tips for Protecting Your Ears in Noisy Environments
Community and workplace noise management is not always within your control. There is very little that the city can do about noise generated from speeding cars or vehicle modifications, and construction noise is permitted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays – and potentially later for critical infrastructure projects.
These tips can help you protect your hearing no matter what’s going on in the city around you:
1. Wear Protective Noise Plugs
One of the best ways to reduce risks to your hearing is to protect your ears with noise plugs. We provide custom-fitted noise plugs to better attenuate loud noises and protect your hearing from shocks like construction or loud music. You can wear them to work, concerts, Leafs games, or even on the subway.
2. Wear Swim Plugs at the Pool or the Lake
Whether you swim at the gym or at the beach, wearing swim plugs will protect your ears from potential infection. Ear infections increase your risk of hearing damage. Individuals with perforations in their eardrums will also want to wear swim plugs to keep water out of their eardrums.
3. Take Breaks from Using Headphones
Many people find solace from the noise of the city listening to their own music. This can help with stress and anxiety but also puts a strain on your ears. Limit listening to music to about 60-minute stretches. You can leave your headphones on after that. Noise-cancelling headphones are a great accessory for navigating urban living.
4. Avoid Construction Sites and Busy roads
This can be a tough one in Toronto, with construction sites popping up on every corner and traffic overwhelming just about every street. Where you can, walk down quieter roads to protect your ears from traffic noises, sirens, and construction.
Why You Need Regular Hearing Check-Ups
Preventative measures to protect your hearing are great for your long-term hearing health, but hearing loss can still occur. Early intervention is key if you want to avoid other negative health outcomes related to hearing loss, which is why it’s so important to get a hearing test to monitor ear health.
A hearing test will identify hearing loss early, allowing you to get started with an appropriate treatment plan sooner than later. Treatment varies depending on the cause of hearing loss. Your audiologist may recommend professional earwax removal for ear health if wax buildup is causing sounds to seem muffled. In cases of permanent hearing loss, hearing aids are the most effective form of treatment.
Common Signs of Hearing Damage and Early Intervention Strategies
Common signs of hearing damage include symptoms like finding it difficult to hear conversations, asking friends or coworkers to repeat themselves frequently, and becoming irritated or distracted by background noise. Another common sign of hearing damage is a consistent ringing in your ear known as tinnitus. You can learn more about tinnitus by reading our resource on the most common misconceptions about tinnitus.
Early intervention is key when managing hearing loss. While age-related hearing loss may not be preventable, treatment with the help of a hearing aid will prevent declining quality of life or cognition. You can also invest in custom earplugs to protect your hearing from excessive and dangerous levels of noise.
How Your Diet Plays a Role in Your Hearing
You may be surprised to discover that medical researchers have found a connection between diet and hearing health. Researchers found that diets that were high in fruit, vegetables, eggs, fish, and poultry were associated with reduced risks of hearing loss. Other findings included a correlation between high levels of Vitamin D and better hearing health.
The city can be a loud place, but Toronto Hearing Consultants are here to help you protect your ears from urban noise pollution. Check out our other resources on understanding the types of hearing loss, and talk to us about getting your hearing checked or exploring early intervention strategies for hearing loss.
Your hearing is one of your most important senses. Protecting it from the noise of the city is a smart investment in your health.
