While a whole lot of young Americans set out for cities around the country each year, the fact is that sometimes the grind and noise of an urban environment is a bit much to deal with. After all, anyone who is accustomed to peace and quiet is going to be blown away the moment that they're stuck dealing with endless traffic horns blaring and sirens. Cities are living, breathing entities, and cities have been getting louder and louder over the past decade. Reports of busy streets worldwide are measuring at higher decibel levels than ever before, meaning that those citizens who live in apartments on the same streets might be damaging their hearing just by going outside.

But there exist just as many reasons for braving the hustle and bustle of a metropolis as there are reasons that certain people find them uninhabitable. And for anyone who thirsts for fun and adventure, not to mention work-related opportunities, a city absolutely cannot be beat. The good news is that while there are so many factors that contribute to hearing loss in major urban areas, there are an equal number of ways to avoid the stress and negative impact that the endless sounds of the city might have on your ears.

The first step is to remember that it is absolutely crucial to not attempt to drown out the sounds of your commute with headphones. The truth is that subways are going to be loud and packed, and you can't expect iPod earbud headphones to make that any less of a factor. Worse yet, when you try to drown out the noises around you with earbud headphones, you are doing a serious amount of damage to your ears. The trouble is that earbud headphones do not provide any insulation for the sound, and actually pump noise right into your ear canal, where it does the most damage. Don't think that turning up your mp3 player with these type of headphones is going to help with your enjoyment of music; it's only going to contribute to quicker hearing loss.

The alternative? Purchase some noise-canceling headphones, and get ready to enjoy the fact that this will actually help to neutralize the sounds of the city, since a built-in microphone tries to cancel out those white noise sounds. At the same time, those who are walking or riding bicycles to their jobs are recommended to not invest in noise-canceling headphones. Pedestrians and cyclists need their ears to make sure that a taxi isn't about to round a corner and take them out, after all. Don't make the mistake of eliminating your ability to listen to the important noises around you.

Another major stress factor of city living is the fact that in apartments piled one on top of the other, sometimes noise from neighbors can cause serious disruptions. While it might be tempting to attempt a battle of decibels, it often makes far more sense to avoid this. A conflict with stereos can result in truly unbearable levels of noise if you aren't able to win, and sometimes can anger neighbors and provoke them to simply frustrate you. Trying to talk at building meetings or specifically one-on-one is often a great idea. If you're trying to preserve both your hearing and your sanity, consider throwing on a pair of noise-canceling headphones--or even putting in a pair of ear plugs. Such is the price you pay for living in a bustling metropolis.

If you're feeling as though years of city living has been impacting the way you're able to hear, consider having a hearing test done to see what, if any, damage might be there. This is an excellent way to check up on your aural health, and an appointment with a doctor might also be the best way to figure out other solutions to avoiding the noises of the city that you'd just as soon do without.