IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE ON INDIVIDUAL HEARING PROBLEMS. A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Purpose: A normal person cannot perceive sound to its minimum level of 0 dB or the sound of rustling leaves. Persons with excellent hearing capabilities can receive sound levels as low as 15 dB. On the higher end, sound levels that exceed 85 dB can cause damage as bad as permanent hearing damage. The period spent around loud sound determines the extent of damage that will occur. The calmer the sound, the longer one can withstand it without any alarming effect. The general objective of the study was to access the impact of environmental noise on individual hearing problems. A critical literature review Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study concludes that safety practices that can assist in preventing hearing losses and other harmful effects call for personal, physician, and administrative engagement. Administratively, employers have an obligation to provide safety devices that prevent hearing loss or impairment. Employers should provide personal protective equipment to abate noise levels and that employers should give all employees an opportunity select hearing protectors that vary from entire head enclosures, canal caps, earplugs, to ear mugs. Recommendations: The study suggested that that personal hearing protective devices use should be enforced through education and inbuilt administrative mechanisms. Only consistent long term use of prevention produces positive impact. It is also recommended that utilization of safety strategies like shift rotations, leave scheduling, acoustic sound proofing of offices, quiet machinery and other strategies be enhanced through deliberate administrative effort. Keywords:  impact, environmental, noise, individual, hearing problems