Noise and Protecting Our Ears

1What is noise?

Noise is unwanted or unpleasant sound. Music you enjoy can become noise if it is too loud, or if it stops someone sleeping or learning.

We measure how loud a sound is in decibels (dB). A whisper is about 30 dB, and normal talking about 60 dB. Sounds louder than about 85 dB, such as heavy traffic or loud music, can damage your hearing if you listen for a long time. Very loud sounds, like a gunshot or firecrackers close by, can hurt your ears at once.

2Sources of noise

• Loud music from loudspeakers at parties, bars and markets
• Motorbikes, lorries and hooting horns
• Generators, grinding mills and factory machines
• Hammering and building work
• Aircraft near airports

3Effects of noise

• Hearing loss: loud noise can damage the tiny parts inside the ear. This damage can be for ever.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Headaches, stress and tiredness.
• Poor sleep.
• Pupils cannot concentrate or hear the teacher in class.

4Protecting your ears

1. Turn it down: keep radios, TVs and earphones at a comfortable volume.
2. Move away from loudspeakers, generators and machines.
3. Cover your ears, or wear earplugs or ear muffs in very noisy places.
4. Take breaks from loud sound so your ears can rest. With earphones, keep the volume low and do not listen for hours.
5. Never push sticks, pens or other objects into your ears. Clean only the outside of your ear.
6. See a health worker if your ear hurts, runs or you cannot hear well.

5Protecting others

Communities can reduce noise too: keep music low at night, plant trees and hedges between roads and schools (leaves soak up sound), and keep generators away from homes.

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.