Nevada is Naturally One of US’s Quietest States

You read that title right—Nevada really is one of the quietest states in America. Las Vegas is definitely the exception to the silence, as it is a major draw for people around the world. As our hearing clinics are in Las Vegas, we were a little surprised to see how highly Nevada ranked for a lack of noise pollution.

Yet, outside of Las Vegas—and perhaps Reno—most of Nevada is very sparsely populated. The lower population combined with the harsher climate makes it so that there aren’t many critters of the noisy type that can stand to live in Nevada. So, for those who want to escape from the daily bustle, Nevada may be back on their list of places to visit.

Outside Of Las Vegas, Nevada Is Beautifully Quiet

Like any metro area, Las Vegas can be noisy and chaotic, even more so for those who have a hearing impairment. The extra background noise can make it difficult for those with hearing loss to hone in individual voices and sounds.

But, much like how there is more to Las Vegas than just the Strip, there is more to Nevada than Las Vegas. Vacation spots like Lake Mead may not be all that quiet due to its popularity, but natural treasures like Great Basin National Park is scenic and peacefully silent.

To help back up the claim that Nevada is one of the quietest states, check out the image below. This image was generated by the National Parks Service, which had people go across the contiguous United States assessing noise levels.

(Image credit: National Parks Service, Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division)

Measuring loudness in decibels (dB), the darker areas of the map represent quieter regions, while the lighter shades indicate higher noise levels. At the higher end of the map (54 dB+), it would be like having a hairdryer or vacuum constantly going. Imagine that as your base level of noise, then layer the noise of traffic, conversations, construction, and other sounds on top.

It can be a little overwhelming, which is part of why it is important to take breaks to rest your ears. However, the real problem starts when you start to notice that things are quieter than they should be.

What Happens When Everywhere Starts To Be Silent

Hearing loss generally is gradual, so you often won’t notice until it starts to make navigating your daily life difficult. Also, in noisier cities, it is easier to not notice that you can’t hear the birds sing outside your window because there are so many other noises bombarding you. But once you recognize that your hearing has changed, it is time to get it checked.

Having your hearing evaluated doesn’t automatically mean you will need hearing aids. There could be a number of sources for your muffled hearing, from built-up cerumen (earwax) or a type of hearing impairment that can’t be corrected with hearing aids. But you won’t know for sure until you are evaluated by hearing health care professionals.

If you are concerned about your hearing, you can always contact us and take a free hearing evaluation with one of our hearing health care providers. That way, you can know for sure if you have hearing loss, or maybe you just need to take a noise pollution break somewhere else in Nevada for a weekend of peace and quiet!