Some of the subtle warnings of an impending hearing disability include difficulty hearing other people clearly or misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places and asking people to repeat themselves; having to listen to music or watch TV with the volume higher than other people need because the person cannot barely hear what was there.
When one is unable to hear clearly, it affects this person’s daily life as well as his physical, psychological and social well being.
In 2013, it was documented that there are 155,200 people who have hearing impairment in Hong Kong. That accounts to 2.2% of the total population of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong had been taking its problem with noise seriously even before the Environmental Protection Department or EPD was established in 1986 with noise reduction as its top priority project all the time.
This is why they have imposed strict regulations on construction noise, noise from commercial and industrial premises and neighbourhood noise. Noticeably, much of the effort is given into preventing noise.
The cramped living conditions, poor planning of the past and economic activities made Hong Kong remain a fairly noisy city, but efforts to reduce the problem are continuous.
Hong Kong’s economy has significantly grown in the past decades and this is why it no longer came as a surprise that factors that also grow in number along with progress such as transportation, construction, commercial and industrial sources will become very busy so it is going to be close to impossible to only create very minimal noise level especially in a compact and densely populated city such as Hong Kong.
This means, just like other large cities in the world, Hong Kong definitely has its share of noise problems.
Noise that is produced by construction, traffic, aircraft and other sources have become a real problem and it is good that the government tries its best to keep it under control.
Had the government been slow to give action, these noises can lead to mental stress and hearing loss,
It can also interfere with daily activities such as doing homework, watching television, talking on the telephone and sleeping.
This is why the Government has made sure that major forms of environmental noise are under statutory control.
The department focuses on restricting noise from construction activities, commercial and industrial activities, newly registered vehicles and air transport.
Planning, policy making and consultation with the public, minimised the number of people who are exposed to unnecessary noise in the past years and today while the problem is still unavoidable, it is still under control.
Prevention is better than cure. But, if you have a chance needing a hearing aid, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com