| Car alarms, screeching subway cars, loud bars, and | | | | occur weekdays between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. and |
| barking dogs are only a few of the annoyances that | | | | weekends 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. The only way it is |
| can harass people on a daily basis. In a large | | | | enforced is through complaints. You can be fined $45 |
| metropolitan city, these things are the norm and are | | | | for "unreasonable noise" and as much as $8,000 for |
| actually harmful to your ears.If you are exposed to this | | | | larger violations (say, in a nightclub).Listening to an iPod? |
| constantly you can suffer permanent hearing loss. A | | | | Don't spin the dial up more than two thirds. Earbuds |
| rock concert has the noise level of 110 decibels. Even | | | | can increase the volume and put your ears in constant |
| a crowded restaurant can be as much as 96 decibels. | | | | danger.The average rock concert has 115 decibels, |
| And if the sound was not enough, it can damage your | | | | fifteen minutes is the most you can handle without ear |
| ears immediately. When noise is loud it can kill the | | | | plugs. If they are properly fitted, ear plugs work very |
| nerve endings in the inner ear. There is no way to | | | | well. Foam earplugs are made to last only a couple of |
| restore nerve endings that are dead. Hearing loss | | | | days. Wax ones are stronger. There are also custom |
| happens gradually, so you would not know about it | | | | made silicon-rubber earplugs, which you can wash and |
| unless you have your ears tested. By then it can be | | | | re-use for years. They can cost as much as |
| too late.Noise also has other detrimental factors. It can | | | | $125.Sound proofing your home is a good idea as well. |
| cause high blood pressure, fatigue and headaches. It | | | | Hang heavy window curtains and use acoustical tile |
| can cause anxiety and difficulty focusing on | | | | where possible. If you really need some quiet time, go |
| chores.New York city became the first city in the | | | | to the beach, swim, or go to the library.Accomplished |
| United States to adopt a noise code in 1972. It is still in | | | | author, gourmet cook and animal lover. Visit my |
| effect today. The law says that no car alarm can ring | | | | website: soon! |
| for more than 3 minutes and that construction can only | | | | |