WHYY – For a lot of us, noise is a constant factor — an inescapable soundtrack playing on loop in the background. Kids screaming, sirens blaring, the roar of traffic, the sounds of music, lawn mowers, construction, and so much more.
We ignore it when we can, or wear headphones to block out the racket. But all that noise can actually damage our hearing and, subsequently, our overall health. On this episode, we explore what researchers are learning about the connections between noise, hearing loss, and our well-being.
We talk with exposure scientist Rick Neitzel about the long-neglected topic of noise pollution and its effects on our health. He explains the physiological effects of noise, theories on how it causes harm, and some of the most common sources of damaging sound exposure.
Listen to the interview on The Pulse: How Noise Affects our Health
Exposure Research Lab 