UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS & DEADLINE Sound Engineering

Student’s Name Lecturer’s Name Course Name Due Date The Impact of Noise pollution and loud music on Mental Health and Cognitive Function Introduction As the world urbanizes and more people tend to live in cities, isolating oneself from traffic, loud construction noises, loud music, and industrial sounds becomes extremely difficult. While the evolution of human industry has had a lot of positive impacts on society, the effects of human noise pollution and loud music remain a big problem that needs proper management. Repeated distractions caused by disastrous sounds might have a long-term influence on a person's mental and cognitive function. There are many sources of distracting noise in our environment, such as loud music, big diesel machines, graders used to construct roads, airplane engines, police sirens, ambulances, and distracting music. These noise sources surround us at school, work, other social places, and even in our homes. Loud noise that causes stress breaches the safety of over 22 million American workers, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) affirmed. Intensifying sound emanations are proven to be the cause of numerous mental health issues and cognitive impairments, thus undermining the necessity of immediate action for the sake of well-being. Behind the seemingly safe daily noise lie pernicious impacts on stress levels, sleep quality, childhood development, and fundamental cognitive functions like memory, attention, and productivity. Left unaddressed, the ubiquitous presence of noise risks exacerbating widespread societal issues like anxiety, depression, learning deficits, and deteriorating overall health. It is invariably necessary to be cognizant and eradicate these risks when building societies that promote people's happiness. Body Argument: Noise pollution causes stress and anxiety One of the most well-established impacts of noise pollution is its ability to induce significant stress and anxiety. Excessive exposure to stress, such as disruptive sounds, activates the body's fight-or-flight response, triggering a cascade of physiological effects. When the brain registers loud, unpredictable noises like honking horns or aircraft flyovers, it perceives them as threats, prompting the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline (Harvard Medical School). This biochemical reaction temporarily increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate - the body's way of preparing to confront or evade danger. However, with chronic noise bombardment, the continued release of these stress hormones can overload the body's regulatory mechanisms (Harvard Medical School). According to research by (Lawrence) high levels of stress in children is a threat to their health. Children may be impacted by noise in several ways. Acute noise exposure can raise blood pressure, heart rate, and stress-related hormone levels. Persistent noise exposure can cause these physiological reactions to become chronically activated, leading to sickness. Children who feel irritated when the noise gets in the way of their conversations or other desired activities may react in the same way (Lawrence, pp 28). Stress is caused by triggers such as noise, which may lead to a flatter cortisol slope (Nagamine et al. pp 1). This abnormal hormone is consistent with chronic stress and has been linked to adverse health consequences like anxiety disorders, cardiovascular issues, and impaired cognitive functioning over time. The unrelenting presence of noise effectively forces the body into a constant state of low-grade stress and anxiety, leaving it depleted of vital resources needed for resilience and recovery. Certain types of music can be overstimulating and detrimental. Music has been known to soothe and cause mental relaxation and help the mind to settle. However, some music and the way of passing it, such as loud music, affects mental health, relaxation of the mind, and cognition. Loud, aggressive, or highly stimulating genres of music like heavy metal or techno can potentially increase stress, anxiety, and physiological arousal. Exposure to music with chaotic rhythms, dissonant sounds, or excessively loud volumes can overstimulate the brain, leading to feelings of tension, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. “High-volume music can lead to auditory damage, and excessive music engagement may cause attention dispersion or contribute to addictive tendencies. Moreover, some music content can instigate negative emotional responses in adolescents, encompassing themes of violence and discrimination” (Li Fu Chen).  Additionally, personal preferences and cultural factors play a role in how individuals respond to different types of music, making generalized claims about the impacts of music challenging. Noise pollution disrupts sleep and circadian rhythms. Another major concern surrounding noise pollution is its detrimental impact on sleep quality and circadian rhythms. Adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental restoration, vital to immune function, emotional regulation, and cognitive performance. However, noise pollution can significantly disrupt this critical process. A study by the World Health Organization found that night-time noise levels above 30 decibels can induce sleep disturbances and awakenings while learning their recommend below 35 decibels. “The WHO guidelines for community noise recommend less than 30 A-weighted decibels (dB(A)) in bedrooms during the night for a sleep of good quality and less than 35 dB(A) in classrooms to allow good teaching and learning conditions” (Waddington). Chronic exposure to sounds like road traffic, aircraft, and neighborhood noise beyond recommended levels leads to difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep cycles, and reduction in restorative slow-wave and REM sleep stages. The consequences of noise-induced sleep deprivation are far-reaching. Lack of quality sleep impairs focus, problem-solving abilities, and emotional stability. It also weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility to illness. Moreover, disrupted sleep can desynchronize the body's natural circadian rhythms, governed by melatonin and cortisol hormones. This dysregulation of the sleep-wake cycle has been linked to numerous physical and mental health problems, including obesity, diabetes, depression, and even an elevated risk of developing neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease over time (Colten and Altevogt, pp 56). Quality sleep, free from incessant noise intrusions, is paramount for overall well-being. Noise pollution impairs cognitive performance. Beyond its effects on stress and sleep, noise pollution also directly impairs essential cognitive abilities critical for productive functioning. Excessive noise can hinder working memory, performance accuracy, and overall productivity in occupational and academic settings. A study by (Jafari et al.) shows that noise can affect individual performance by affecting information processes or causing changes in the response, affecting performance and memory. 'Noise can also reduce performance accuracy and working memory performance, but does not seem to affect performance speed’ (Jafari ...