Prolonged exposure to loud noise alters how the brain processes speech, potentially increasing the difficulty in distinguishing speech sounds. Exposure to intensely loud sounds leads to damage of the hair cells which act as sound receivers in the ear. Once damaged, the hair cells do not grow back, leading to noise-induced hearing loss.
–Source University of Dallas
Exposure to too many loud noises can overload the brain with stimulating chemicals. Without the balancing effect of the brain's tranquilising chemicals, the stimulating chemicals can damage brain cells.–Source Livestrong.com
Noise from neighbours can cause significant irritation and stress within people. This can result in depression, psychological disorders, migraines and even emotional stress.
When young children are regularly exposed to levels of noise that interfere with speech, they may develop speech or reading difficulties, because auditory processing functions are compromised. –Source Wikipedia
Mr Manning knew what he was doing when he banned loud music in vehicles. Imagine all those schoolchildren, daily, having their hearing assaulted. The noise of the music was bad enough, the lyrical content an insult to human growth.
I have had my own run-in with noisy neighbours. One day all the windows in my house shook. My heart was leaping out of my chest.
The young man responsible was new to our neighbourhood. When, on the second occasion, I asked him to turn it down, he said he'd turn it down when he was ready. And about three hours later, he did. I know there has been an infant in there exposed to that noise.
What is wrong with a person that they have to listen to ear-splitting noise, knowing they are disrupting neighbours?
This is a clear matter for the police. Loud noise is against the law. Like much of our problems, the law is not being enforced. Mr Rowley, I'm depending on you and your no-nonsense approach to keep this sort of behaviour in check. Loud noise makes a lot of people angry and irritable. Maybe quieter neighbourhoods will produce healthier, happier people. This noisy assault on our neighbourhoods has got to stop!
Anne Murphy