Protecting Children’s Hearing
The Hearing Journal recently shared an article that reviews the growth and maturation of the human auditory system and explores why children are more susceptible than adults to auditory damage from noise. Researchers recommend ways to protect infants' and children's hearing.
Children and adolescents are exposed to harmful noise from many sources, including toys, personal listening devices, band practice, movies, concerts, sports events, air shows, auto races, and life cycle celebrations. According to the article, in three studies based on screening audiometry during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), about 20% of adolescents aged 12-20 years had hearing loss, although the survey didn't report causes.
What can parents do:
Reduce the volume, have the child use hearing protection, or leave the noisy environment. We recommend the 60-60 Rule.
Follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) screen time recommendations since watching videos on tablet devices or cellphones is a significant source of noise exposure for children.
Purchase headphones with noise-canceling or sound-isolating features that permit lower listening volumes in noisy environments.
Teach older children and adolescents the importance of safer personal listening to protect hearing.
For more information about infant and child hearing loss, please explore our childhood hearing loss page. If you believe your child is experiencing a hearing loss, consult with your child's pediatrician for a referral or contact us directly. We're here to help!
