Our ears are more delicate than we think - and the sounds of NYC might be too tough on them
Many cases of hearing loss are caused by prolonged exposure to everyday sounds.
More Stories
The sounds of the city can be overwhelming - but did you know the noise could also damage your hearing?
From the constant hum of subway trains to the blare of car horns and the grind of construction equipment, we are surrounded by noise. Audiologist Dr. John Weigand warns that this relentless exposure can damage our ears.
He’s spent years treating New Yorkers with hearing loss.
“You’ll notice when you start following people around just to hear them in another room -that’s a sign your hearing isn’t as sharp.”
Many cases of hearing loss are caused by prolonged exposure to everyday sounds.
“Sometimes you’ll see a noise-induced loss in just the left ear of a person over 50, and you realize, ‘Ah, they must have been a cab driver or bus driver,’” he said.
News 12 used an app to measure the sound levels around the borough to understand how noisy New York can be. A simple drive clocked in at roughly 70 decibels, a level considered safe by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But it doesn’t take much for noise levels to climb. A food truck hit 100 decibels, standing on a subway platform registered around 98. Even brief exposure to sounds like fireworks, reaching 160 decibels, can cause permanent damage.
Combine this with constant noise from our headphones, and our ears are without a break. “It’s a lifetime of audio content coming at you, and it doesn’t stop," said Dr. Weigand.
Dr. Weigand recommends regular hearing checks throughout your life to catch issues early.
