b"noise pollution of sounds at those levels can really impact your hearing loss.There are some very simple things we can There are some very simple thingsdo to help, says Erica Walker. When teachers we can do to help, she says. When teachers ask you to be quiet, youask you to be quiet, you should be. It might should be. It might not seem like a bignot seem like a big deal, but loud noise in the deal, but loud noise in the classroom might hurt your ears or cause youclassroom might hurt your ears or cause you stress, even if you dont realize it. stress, even if you dont realize it.I try to control my environment through things like listening to soothing music, Dr. Walker says. She also says she sometimes uses a white noise machine in her home or noise-canceling headphones or earplugs when she is out where there may be a lot of noise.I can't control people. I can't go up to people and tell them to shut up or turn the volume down, says Dr. Walker, but I can control my space.And Dr. Walker is still an artist. She makes books, furniture, pottery, and paintings. I love art, she explains. If its something you like to do, it relieves stress. Its something I always like to do, no matter how busy I get in my full-time job.Vivian Tran, Zuri Cox, and Ania SiutaEast Norriton Bulldog BulletinPage 13 illustration: Lexus Jimenez, 4th grade, Isaac A. Sheppard Healthy Shark (headphones)F a l l 2 0 2 5 | H E A L T H Y N E W S W O R K S . O R G13"