03/13/26

Yes, We Heard Your Noise Complaints

Man in dark pants walks along a sidewalk blowing leaves with a leaf blower
Credit: Shutterstock

We recently asked you, dear listeners, to call us with your noise complaints, and whew, did you have them. We received over 100 messages about the sounds you detest the most: leaf blowers, your neighbor’s annoying dog, hand dryers, the works. And it got us thinking, are these sounds just annoying? Or dangerous to our hearing?

We called up audiologist Tina Penman to wade through some of your grievances and find out how loud is too loud.


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Segment Guests

Tina Penman

Dr. Tina Penman is an audiologist in Sacramento, California.

Segment Transcript

The transcript is being processed. It will be available 2-3 days after this story’s publication date.

Meet the Producers and Host

About Rasha Aridi

Rasha Aridi is a producer for Science Friday and the inaugural Outrider/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellow. She loves stories about weird critters, science adventures, and the intersection of science and history.

About Dee Peterschmidt

Dee Peterschmidt is Science Friday’s audio production manager, hosted the podcast Universe of Art, and composes music for Science Friday’s podcasts. Their D&D character is a clumsy bard named Chip Chap Chopman.

About Flora Lichtman

Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.

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