How does noise in my office affect me and my staff? Uncontrolled noise is bad for you, full stop, and the science is not subtle about it. When you have no control over the sound around you, it raises your cortisol and your brain genuinely does not like it. Over time that grinds on your systems and your mood. The key word is uncontrolled. It is the lack of control that does the damage, not sound itself. So look around your practice with fresh ears. The compressor, the suction, an HVAC unit screaming all day, a waiting room with a TV [...]