Kids wearing headphones and earbuds are everywhere - in the car, at the mall, on the street, at the park. Headphones seem like a great idea! Kids can be amused and adults don’t have to be bothered by music and noisy games. However, headphones and earbuds can also cause hearing loss. A recent study showed that 12.5% of children 6 to 19 years of age had hearing loss.
Hearing loss from headphones and earbuds is an example of a condition called noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This kind of hearing loss is becoming more of a problem among kids and teens. Hearing loss from noise is gradual and you may not notice it at first.
Chainsaws and motorcycle engines create about 100 decibels of sound. That much sound can start to damage a person's ears after less than half an hour. An iPod or similar device at 70% of its top volume is about 85 decibels. Turning the volume up and listening for long periods of time can put you in real danger of permanent hearing loss.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe using headphones and earbuds.
· Headphones can be safer than earbuds because earbuds send sound directly into your ear canal which can increase its intensity by several decibels.
· Follow the 60/60 rule: no more than 60% of maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes.
· If you are using headphones or earbuds and the people around you can hear your music, it is too loud.
· There are also several headphones that offer volume-limiting options: KidzControl Volume Limit Headphones, Crayola MyPhones, Fuhu Nabi Headphones
Kids have a hard time understanding how loud noise now may affect their hearing later, so it’s important for parents to take an active role in protecting their child’s hearing much like we try to feed our children healthy foods, encourage them to get exercise, and insist they wear a seat belt. With your help, your children will be able to enjoy hearing music now and the rest of their lifetimes.