Disability rights aspects of ambient noise for people with auditory disorders

Abstract

The United States and European Union (EU) guarantee people with disabilities certain rights, with goals of full enjoyment, active inclusion, and equal participation in society. This approach is also found in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by EU. Noise is a disability rights issue for individuals with hearing loss. Many cannot understand speech in noisy places, with or without hearing aids. Ambient noise levels below 60 A-weighted decibels with a reverberation time under 0.50 seconds are needed to allow those with partial hearing loss to follow normal conversations. Noise worsens symptoms for those with tinnitus and hyperacusis. Noisy restaurants, stores, and other places deny full enjoyment and equal participation in public life to those with hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Legislative and regulatory action is needed to provide quiet environments, with established noise standards vigorously enforced. Technologies and environmental modifications to control noise are well known, readily available, and relatively inexpensive. The simplest modification, which costs nothing, is merely turning down the volume of amplified sound. Quiet facilitates communication for everyone and prevents development of hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis in those without auditory disorders.