Big City Living And Hearing Loss

When people consider the effects on the environment living in a big city, typically what comes to mind are car exhaust, dirty water sources, trash on the streets and in parks, need for recycling, and lack of green spaces. One of the most destructive and common forms of pollution in large cities such as New York is noise pollution. The cars, buses, people, machinery, construction sites, and music all combine to make extremely loud noises. This is not only harmful to the environment, but also to peoples hearing. It is crucial that people living in big cities take certain precautions as not to prevent further hearing loss.

Unlike other noises that can cause hearing loss such as loud concerts or sudden noises, the noise pollution in large cities never ends. Twenty four hours a day buses run, cars move, and the city stays alive. After all, New York City is the city that never sleeps, and it is only during sleep that one remains completely silent for long periods of time.

To tell someone that living in a big city can cause hearing loss and they should move is simply unrealistic. The truth of the matter is living in a large city brings ample opportunities to individuals and families. It provides plenty of job opportunities, as well as the kind of busy and exciting lifestyle than many prefer. Some could choose to live in a country, but most would rather live in the city.

For all the harmful effects to the environment that occur in the city, there are also some positive aspects. Public transportation is greatly used in larger cities, on warm days many people choose to walk, and in many cities in the United States citizens are more conscious about keeping their streets and sidewalks free of trash and dog excrements. Living in New York City can be an exciting and fun time and can actually hold benefits to your health. People typically get outside and walk more, and they attempt to eat healthier in order to stay fit in such a fashionable location.

With every positive there is a negative, and a definite negative to living in New York is the noise pollution and possibility of hearing loss. There are ways to reduce damage to your ears and hearing while living in the city. Taking public transportation is a popular option, as it reduces the amount of money spent on gas and it of course reduces the amount of stress spent driving those busy streets. Many people opt to listen to their own personal music collection while in route to work or other destinations. However, this can have a harming effect on your ears, as you will most likely turn up the volume in order to drown out the other noises. Although it wont sound so loud to you, it is still a loud volume going directly into your ear drums. By deciding not to listen to loud music on public transportation, you can help lessen the effect of hearing loss. Headphones that can be beneficial to wear while in commute or at home are noise cancelling headphones. Living in a big city can be great for your social life, but harmful to your hearing. Make smart decisions while traveling around the city in order to help your ears and future hearing.