International Noise Awareness Day (INAD), April 28, 2021

 

International Noise Awareness Day (INAD) aims to raise awareness of the effects of noise on the health and welfare of individuals and populations worldwide. It was founded in 1996 by the Center of Hearing and Communication (CHC).

The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) would like to invite everyone to participate in INAD 2021 by raising awareness of the harmful effects of noise on hearing, health and quality of life. Protect your hearing, protect your health!

International Year of Sound Student Competition

WHAT: Competition for students of Primary and Middle Schools (approximately from 5 to 12 years old). Students can make art or write lyrics inspired by the the motto “Importance of Sound for Society and the World” or the song “The Sound Of The World”.

WHEN: Submissions due April 30, 2021

WHY: The competition hopes to highlight how the sound environment is a key component in the equilibrium of all human beings, in their relationship with others and with the world, in its economic, environmental, societal, medical, industrial and cultural dimensions.

Eligibility and Submission Details

60 seconds of quiet

WHAT: 60 seconds of silence

WHEN: April 28, 2021 from 2:15-2:16 p.m. (regardless of time zone)

WHY: A moment to experience what quiet really sounds like.

Embrace healthy hearing practices

WHAT: Schedule a hearing screening

WHEN: Whenever you can

WHY: 28.8 million US adults could benefit from using hearing aids

Do you need a hearing test?

Sound off for change

WHAT: Help raise awareness of the harmful effects of noise on hearing, health and quality of life, and inspire positive action on your social media platforms.

WHEN: April 28th, 2020

WHY: By protecting our hearing, we protect our health

download a graphic

Recipe for A Quiet Diet

Take these simple steps from the Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) to preserve the quiet in your life.

  • Pay attention to the noises you make and respect your neighbor’s right to peace and quiet.
  • Turn down the volume two notches on your radios and personal stereo systems with headphones.
  • Turn down the volume one notch on your television.
  • Do NOT honk your horn, except in the case of imminent danger.
  • Do NOT tip cab drivers who honk their horns illegally.
  • Avoid noisy sports events, restaurants, rock concerts and nightclubs unless you use hearing protection.
  • Replace noisy activities with quiet ones such as taking a walk, visits to libraries and museums.
  • Ask your health club instructor to lower the music.
  • Ask the movie theater manager to turn down the volume.
  • Wear adequate hearing protection if you must be in a noisy environment (the subway, mowing the lawn)
  • Turn off the television during dinner and have a quiet conversation instead.
  • Get a free hearing screening.
  • Attend a town meeting to review (or develop) a local, enforceable noise ordinance.
  • Spread the word about the danger of noise,

And remember… observe one minute of no noise from 2:15 – 2:16 pm (regardless of location/time zone).

Noise Awareness Lesson Plans

These lessons can be used for most grades to learn about measuring sound and hearing anatomy.

Sound Measures – Students use a sound level meter to measure, compare and graph sound levels in different environments.

Your Ear – Students explore how the ear hears and work through an interactive demonstration.

How Loud is Too Loud? – Students create a wheel that will show them various sound sources, the decibels , and allowable exposure time.

Loud Sounds Bookmarks – Students familiarize themselves with the idea that some sounds can be too loud.

Kids’ Noise Awareness Activities

These are all activities families can do at home and still have fun learning about sound and hearing.

Loud Sounds Coloring Sheets – Learn how to protect your ears from loud sounds with 4 different printable loud sounds coloring sheets.

Dangerous Decibels Exhibit – Learn about loud sounds in this virtual exhibit with games, demonstrations and activities.

Giant Acoustics Word Search – Learn about acoustics terminology in this acoustics word search!

All About Noise Crossword Puzzle – Test your noise knowledge in this crossword puzzle.

Acoustics Today

Read noise, hearing science and hearing relating research published in Acoustics Today!

The Remarkable Cochlear Implant and Possibilities for the Next Large Step Forward

The modern cochlear implant is an astonishing success; however, room remains for improvement and greater access to this already marvelous technology.

Psychoacoustics of Tinnitus- Lost in Translation

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source, often experienced as a constant or frequent ringing, humming, or buzzing.

Highway Traffic Noise

Understanding highway traffic noise sources and how to abate them and addressing health concerns and environmental protection legislation and regulations.

Scientists with Hearing Loss Changing Perspectives in STEMM

The perspective of scientists who are deaf or hard-of-hearing provides novel insights into understanding auditory perception, hearing loss, and restoring auditory functionality.

The Underwater Sound Field from Impact Pile Driving and Its Potential Effects on Marine Life

The increased use of impact driving to install steel piles for in-water construction has with it a responsibility to assess the possible effects of related underwater noise on aquatic life.

Ambient Noise Is “The New Secondhand Smoke”

Excessive ambient noise causes hearing loss; disrupts sleep, function, and communication; and causes nonauditory health effects for millions of people.

Hospital Soundscapes: Characterization, Impacts, and Interventions

Hospital soundscapes do not currently project the aura of calm and restfulness that patients and staff would prefer to experience.

Worldwide Low-Frequency Ambient Noise

Hydrophone stations deployed for ensuring compliance to the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty offer a tremendous tool for monitoring and understanding the underwater acoustic environment.

Hearing and Aging Effects on Speech Understanding: Challenges and Solutions

Development of effective, evidence-based solutions to overcoming communication barriers imposed by hearing loss is critical in our rapidly aging population.

Building a Sound Future for Students- Considering the Acoustics in Occupied Active Classrooms

Acoustics in occupied active classrooms should be carefully considered because they may relate more to student achievement than unoccupied conditions.

From Father Flanagan to Hearing Research: A History of Acoustics Research at Boys Town

How Boys Town, an organization known for work with at-risk children, became an important contributor to hearing, speech, and language research.

Regeneration of Auditory Hair Cells: A Potential Treatment for Hearing Loss on the Horizon

Regeneration of cochlear hair cells is being investigated as a potential therapy for hearing impairments.

Middle Ear Biomechanics - Smooth Sailing

Th e ability to hear is vital and profound, enabling spoken communication and the emotional power of music, among many other experiences.

The Impact of Urban and Traffic Noise on Birds

Birds, like humans, have problems with hearing in the presence of urban and traffic noise.

Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss

Proactive hearing loss prevention programs that reduce workplace noise are shifting the focus from documentation of an injury to the prevention of occupational hearing loss.

What To Do About Environmental Noise?

The evidence linking environmental noise to negative human health outcomes is increasing. As a pollution problem, is it taken seriously?

More Resources

Follow us!

Acoustical Society of America

Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics (POMA) – Editor-reviewed, open-access, online journal

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) – Theoretical and experimental results