Cellular shades may help block out noisy traffic

Construction on I-94 in Michigan is not only proving to be a nuisance to motorists, but to those who live near by as well. According to MLive.com, noise from construction and vehicles forced to drive over rumble strips has caused residents, like Mike Maillard, significant agitation.

"The rumble strips are out there to annoy people, to wake them up so they don't go off the road, so of course it's going to have a significant impact," Maillard told the news source.

Situations such as this are common for people who live near highways, but one way to diminish the impact of noisy construction is by installing cellular shades, which can absorb a great deal of sound.

"Window treatments should do more than increase the aesthetic value of a house," says Chris Stanley of Blinds Chalet. They should provide UV protection, decrease glare, help insulate homes and reduce noise."

Not only can exposure to loud noise damage hearing, but United Press International recently cited a German study that showed that prolonged exposure to traffic noise may be disruptive to sleep.

"The study demonstrated that traffic noise may disturb sleep and consequently impede recuperation, as was shown by deterioration of neurobehavioral performance," lead author Eva-Maria Elmenhorst said.