Just like sight, hearing is a vital organ that is part of a person’s senses. Often, we do not give the necessary importance to our hearing health; however, we must take care of it from the first years of life. Nowadays, people are constantly exposed to various types of noise pollution, generating detrimental effects on their health. In this opportunity, Dr. Francisco Salaverry, otorhinolaryngologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, gives us some recommendations to take into account.

Types of noise pollution

There are several types of noise pollution that can damage our hearing. Among the most common are:

• Vehicular congestion. It can affect a person’s health in different ways, as it can cause irritability, anxiety, and irreversible damage to hearing.
• Listening to music in the car. It is a very frequent habit. This habit promotes the development of deafness and tinnitus, causing serious repercussions on hearing health. Therefore, music should be listened to at an adequate volume.
• Listening to music for several hours a day. Music should be listened to for no more than 8 hours a day, preferably with headphones that cover the ears and at a moderate volume.
• Loud noises at home. At home you should avoid shouting, using televisions and sound equipment with very high volumes, as well as washing machines at night. If you have pets, you should educate them so that they do not become a source of noise.

Our specialist recommends:

If you live in areas with a high traffic flow, you should keep your windows closed or use earplugs during rush hour when the noise is very intense. This is to reduce the risk of hearing damage.

Dr. Francisco Salaverry
Otorhinolaryngologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma