NICA | Exploring the Future of Mobility and Gait in China
Health Positive Adaptations
Sound Solutions
MICRO TREND
Designing quieter experiences in and around transport solutions As the impact of noise pollution becomes more widely understood, citizens are calling for governments and companies to address excessive noise produced by industrial practices and transport. Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide127 - or 1 in 4 people - will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. Agerelated hearing loss was the third-largest source of global years lived with disability in 2019 and the leading source for adults older than 70128 years of age. In China, the number of people aged 65 and above who experience hearing difficulty is expected to have exceeded 50 million129 in 2021. Studies have shown that hearing loss can lead to social isolation and loneliness130 at all ages due to decreased participation in activities and reduced social circles. This can occur due to increased avoidance of potentially embarrassing social situations that arise from an impaired ability to comprehend auditory information131. Social isolation can significantly impact the psychosocial and cognitive health of older adults. A lack of interaction and loneliness can lead to cognitive decline as well as worsening mental health132, facilitating a gateway to depression. Noise pollution can also lead to several other health
effects including, a greater risk of ischaemic heart disease, hypertension133, sleep disturbances134, annoyance and cognitive impairments135. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in increasing collective awareness of noise pollution cannot be understated. As the world went into lockdown, people, transport and industry all stopped, bringing with it a new quiet landscape136. As a result, people reported that bird songs had gotten louder137 when, in fact, the bird song had gotten quieter. Road traffic noise is now one of the leading causes of noise pollution globally. The European Environment Agency estimates that 100 million people in EU states are exposed to road traffic noise above 55dB138 (the EU’s daily exposure threshold), and of these, 32 million experience very high noise levels (above 65 dB). Noise data collected from 322 cities across China in 2016 showed the average day-time sound level of urban road traffic is 66.8dB139, accounting for 21.7% of noise sources. Mobility solutions that help prevent hearing damage and make it easier for those with hearing impairments to lead comfortable, healthier lives will become highly sought after.
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© Pawel Czerwinski
