Urban noise levels are high enough to damage auditory sensorineural health

ABSTRACT

This commentary outlines the preventable auditory sensorineural health risk of cumulative episodic high-level indoor and outdoor non-occupational urban noise. Irreversible auditory sensorineural damage includes hidden hearing loss (cochlear synaptopathy), tinnitus, signal-to-noise ratio loss, noise-induced hearing impairment, and accelerated age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). There is evidence of ubiquitous high-level urban noise exceeding public health limits, and increased prevalence of sensorineural auditory damage in all age groups internationally. Sensorineural components differ greatly between late-onset sensory presbycusis in people with no hazardous exposure and early-onset neural presbycusis in people with a history of high noise exposure. Public health auditory safe listening limits are more stringent than occupational limits in order to fully protect the general population from permanent sensorineural noise damage. Speech interference noise limits prevent social isolation of individuals with noise-induced auditory system damage or hearing impairment from any cause. Quieter urban noise levels meeting public health limits are urgently needed to protect auditory sensorineural health, lower healthcare costs, and permit communication access in public spaces for people with auditory disabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Hearing impairment
• tinnitus
• noise-adverse effects
• speech interference
• residential segregation
• health equity

Acknowledgement

This is to acknowledge no financial interest or benefit has arisen from the direct applications of this commentary.

Disclosure statement

Jan L. Mayes receives royalties for books written on hearing, tinnitus, and hyperacusis.

Additional information

Funding

This article was unfunded.

Notes on contributors

Jan L. Mayes

Jan L. Mayes, MSc, Aud(C), RAud, is a Canadian audiologist, hearing health educator, and Eric Hoffer award winning author in non-fiction health. She specializes in evaluation, management, and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. She is passionate about preventing noise pollution and preserving quieter soundscapes to protect everyone’s auditory health and quality of life.