Kids and Noise Induced Hearing Loss

If you've been reading this blog or scanning the internet for hearing-related news over the past couple years, you already know what I'm about to say.  But, a reminder is necessary as the weather is finally warmer and more people are out running and walking and mowing their lawns while wearing their iPods.

Noise-induced hearing loss.  It's real folks.  Of course, we know if happens to people who work in factories and other places with really loud noise. But what about your habits? Do you use an iPod or other music player with headphones?  Do you pay attention to how loud you are setting your volume?

What about your kids?

"Hearing loss due to noise exposure is the only type of hearing loss we have any control over. As a pediatric audiologist, I treat the effect of loud music on an alarming number of younger patients. As a mother, I understand that music is a part of every generation and today's youth has more opportunities to directly expose their fragile ears to outputs that can cause hearing loss." says Jacqueline Scholl, Au.D., The Scholl Center for Communication Disorders

Results from a survey done by MTV showed that about half of the 2500 respondents listen to their music players at 75-100% of the maximum volume.  Nearly half also reported symptoms of hearing loss - ringing in the ears, trouble hearing, ear pain when in loud noise.  This is alarming. What's more alarming is that even fewer (about 30%) said they thought this might be a problem.

We NEED to teach our children.  YOU as a parent, need to tell your children to protect their ears...just like you tell them to wear sunscreen or to brush their teeth.

A good piece of advice:  if you can hear the music your child is listening too, it's too loud. Simple. Easy. Tell them to turn it down, or make them use volume-reducing earphone/earbuds.

More questions? Need those safe earbuds? Give us a call.