As part of April 24 International Noise Awareness Day, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin from the Audiology Department, evaluating the effects of noises often unnoticed in daily life on both hearing and general health, stated that “silent noises” constantly exposed to in the background create an invisible burden on the brain.
Emphasizing that the cognitive effects of noise should be highlighted, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin said, “When the brain is exposed to background noise, it expends more effort to filter sounds. This situation can, over time, lead to impairments such as attention problems, chronic mental fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. ‘Silent noises’ like the constant hum of a refrigerator, air conditioner sounds, or traffic noise, which remain continuously in the background, actually mean unending overtime for the brain.”
Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin from the Audiology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, evaluated the effects of noises, often unnoticed in daily life, on both hearing and general health, within the scope of April 24 International Noise Awareness Day.
Air conditioner, keyboard, fan, and monitor sounds are among the silent noise sources
Stating that noise exposure in daily life, often unnoticed, affects overall health, especially hearing, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin said, “Especially in large cities, traffic and transportation noise, where we spend a significant part of the day, as well as air conditioner, keyboard, fan, and monitor sounds in work environments, music, phone, and speech sounds in social settings, heavy machinery and construction sounds in industrial workplaces, and electrical appliances in homes, are among the ‘silent’ noise sources we most frequently encounter. Although some of these sounds may seem harmless, long-term and repeated exposure negatively affects both the auditory system and general health.”
Loud noise carries the risk of permanent damage
Referring to the issue of noise exposure, Asst. Prof. Gültekin said, “The intensity of noise and the duration of exposure are two important factors in determining the extent of impact. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers exposure to sounds of 85 dB and above as a critical threshold for hearing loss risk. Sounds above this level carry the risk of permanent damage. However, even at lower intensities for safe listening, prolonged exposure poses a risk for hearing loss over time.”
Noise affects not only the ear but the entire body
Noting that noise is a stress source affecting not only the auditory system but the entire body, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin said, “Because it is interpreted as a biological threat, even low-intensity background noise causes the body to reorganize in response to stress and changes in hormone levels. The occurrence of stress responses such as increased blood pressure and heart rate increases the risk of heart diseases. In addition, chronic noise can also cause digestive problems and neurological impairments.”
Causes mental fatigue
Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin also stated that the cognitive effects of noise are another issue that should be emphasized, saying, “When the brain is exposed to background noise, it expends more effort to filter sounds. This situation can, over time, lead to impairments such as attention problems, chronic mental fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. ‘Silent’ noises such as the constant hum of a refrigerator, air conditioner sounds, or traffic noise, which remain continuously in the background, actually mean unending overtime for the brain. The classification of these sounds and the determination of important information such as their location, content, and intensity for the listener are only possible when the brain enters an active processing state. This filtering effort consumes cognitive energy, weakens concentration capacity, and leads to mental fatigue at the end of the day.”
Causes unexplained fatigue at the end of the day
Explaining that this constant state of arousal in the brain due to noise can create a low-level but chronic stress response, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin stated, “A slight but continuous increase in stress hormones like cortisol can be observed. Individuals may not perceive this as ‘too much noise’; rather, they might feel it as unexplained fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating at the end of the day. The brain being in a constantly active monitoring mode can lead to the depletion of our mental resources and thus chronic fatigue. It can result in impaired sleep quality and increased anxiety levels. Additionally, noise sensitivity varies individually. Due to neurological and biological differences, some people may be more affected even if the noise level is low.”
Getting used to it does not protect!
Noting that in short-term exposures, such as after leaving a very noisy environment like a concert, hearing loss, fullness, or slight tinnitus can be felt, and this condition is often temporary, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin said, “However, if such exposures recur frequently or if background noise becomes constant, the effects of noise can become permanent. From this perspective, individuals working in noisy workplaces constitute the largest risk group. Even if one gets used to the presence of noise or has greater tolerance for being bothered by noise, it is not possible to limit its effects.”
Stating that the effect of noise often appears cumulatively, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin said, “That is, the risk manifests itself not just with very loud sound, but as an increasing cumulative process with long-term exposure. Therefore, exposure to noise sources in daily life should be kept under control. To prevent cumulative effects from occurring and becoming permanent, individual noise-blocking filter systems and hearing protectors should be used, especially in noisy workplaces.”
Silence is not a luxury, it is a necessity!
Stating that access to silence is becoming increasingly difficult in modern life, Asst. Prof. Gökçe Gültekin concluded her words by saying, “Although urbanization and population density may not affect the number of environments with little or no noise, they can restrict access to these areas. Transportation and human mobility create a constant background noise. On top of this, technological devices are added: air conditioning systems, electronic devices, constantly open screens, and notifications… This means silence is hindered not only environmentally but also internally. Even if we are not physically active, the brain remains active in catching all this movement. Although noise is an inevitable part of modern life, its effects should not be underestimated. Completely avoiding noise may not be possible, but reducing exposure time, taking protective measures in loud environments, and paying attention to volume levels when using headphones are important steps in protecting both our hearing health and mental performance. Silence is not a luxury, but a biological necessity. Every step taken to meet this need will be very valuable.”
