THE GRAMMY'S, NOISE AND MENTAL HEALTH

For pure talent, there was nothing like the Grammy’s this past Sunday night. It was the most entertaining awards show I have ever seen. The Oscars could take a lesson from them on how to be fun, energetic and not boring. But, as I was watching Kanye West and others perform with a backdrop of electricity, neon light, and ear blowing sound, I couldn’t help but think of the constant over stimulation that we are all subject to these days…especially children and teenagers. And, maybe, just maybe, it is harmful – very harmful, particularly in the long run.

Sure, it was great entertainment and I enjoyed the show, but the loud noise, the barrage of lights on the eyes and brain, the attack on the ears and the nervous system has its downside. (I could turn down the tv – but you couldn’t do it if you were there.)

I know what happens to me when some idiot who apparently has hearing issues, pulls up next to me in his oversized pick up and the music is so loud that my car begins to dance on its own. Yes, that’s right, my car starts to vibrate and my heart begins to race. I am agitated, nervous - even find myself feeling like I’m getting a panic attack.

I understand the connections between loud noise, my ears and my bodily reaction. It is disturbing and physically stressful. But, I’m an adult. What does this do to young children subjected to this onslaught? An infant/toddler exposed to loud noises on a regular basis often develops serious emotional and neurological issues. Afterall, the natural fear we are all born with is to loud noises.

We already know that the high decibel output of rock music has resulted in an increase in hearing loss among young people – who surely will be deaf by the time they’re 60.
The nerve signals in the ears are very sensitive and it doesn’t take much to damage them permanently. Why even sounds above normal speech can do damage. So, what do you think all this rock concerts, computer games, loud tv, etc. does to the ears and the brain?

All kinds of stimuli can temporarily disrupt normal functioning of the brain, either by overloading it with, or by depriving it of, sensory stimulation." (THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD, 1995)

In war torn areas, like the Middle East, children (and adults) subject to the loud barrage of bombs, noises, gunshots and screams develop hypersensitivity, sleeplessness, agitation and depressive symptoms. Though the setting is definitely not the same as a rock concert, the nervous system really does not differentiate one type of loud noise from another and the bodily responses are typically the same.

I propose that all this light and sound overloading our kids and ourselves on a continuous basis is resulting in more childhood disorders, more mental illness, an increase in ADD symptoms and an inability to cope. It is also creating an increase in addictions. What do you do when the music stops? How do you continue to stimulate those dopamine receptors in the brain?

We are not able to sit still or find calmness in our lives. Either the tv, radio, computer (or all three) is always on prompting us to give our brains more and more excitement. It’s another addiction, just one that is accepted in society. Time to consider quieting things down for the sake of the world.