Noise can penetrate mother's womb, harm baby

LUCKNOW: Noise is emerging as a major health problem in India. Different researches have already indicated noise-induced hearing loss among youth, it can cause cardiac problems among elderly. Even babies inside their mother's womb cannot escape the ill-effects of noise.

"Exposure to noise can penetrate mother's womb and harm the baby," said N Thakur, paediatrician at University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi.

"Exposure to noise during pregnancy may result in high-frequency hearing loss in newborns, growth retardation, cochlear damage, prematurity and birth defects. Newborns exposed to sound above 45 decibels may experience increase in blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate; decreased oxygen saturation; and increased caloric consumption," he noted.

Thakur, who's also worked in Lucknow, added that noise exposure in older children may result in learning disabilities, attention difficulties, insulin resistance, hypertension, stress ulcers and cardiovascular diseases. Sudden exposure to loud noise can lead to rupturing of eardrum.

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common outcome of increasing decibels in society. In Lucknow, about 50% of patients diagnosed with the problem are young. "At least 30-35 patients of NIHL come to us every week," said Dr Pankaj Srivastava, ENT consultant at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil Hospital.

KGMU's faculty, medicine, Dr Kauser Usman said that the noise caused by power horns could cause accidents. "Blaring horns may cause loss of balance and sometimes lead to unconsciousness which poses threat of life to pedestrians and those driving two-wheelers," he said.

Human ear can tolerate sound in the range of 5-35 decibels. Sound over 35 and below 55 can lead to moderate loss of hearing while above 55 and below 70 can cause severe damage to the ear. Noise above 80 decibels can cause profound deafness.

A WHO document however revealed hearing impairment can be averted if people pay attention to some common symptoms. Bell ringing in the ears or sounds of humming, buzzing sensation or akin to machine running is not normal.