In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in eight children ages six to 19 has hearing damage caused by exposure to loud noises. The World Health Organization predicts that this number will continue to rise, with the amount of global hearing loss cases doubling by the year 2050. So, what is the reason behind this alarming increase of hearing loss in children? And what can be done to protect your child’s hearing?
Why Is Our Children’s Hearing at Risk?
Loud noise exposure is the biggest culprit. Our modern world is much louder than it once was. We are constantly exposed to loud noises like construction sounds, sirens, and loud music – often at decibel levels that are harmful to our ears. And headphones don’t help matters.
It’s common for people to wear headphones or earbuds all day long – when talking on the phone, listening to music, exercising, or working. This includes teens and children. Many children use tablets with headphones in noisy environments like restaurants. Often, the volume is turned up too high.
When we think about noise-induced hearing loss, we often think of hearing loss that’s caused by a sudden sound like an explosion. The truth is that noise-induced hearing loss doesn’t always come on suddenly. It can be caused by exposure to loud noises over time. Since this type of hearing loss occurs gradually, many people don’t notice it until permanent damage is done.
The problem comes from a combination of duration and volume. As an example, Apple Airpods Max produces a volume of around 100 dB. Only 20 minutes of listening at that volume can be harmful. It’s crucial to keep the volume at safe levels and give our ears regular breaks.
How Noise Exposure Impacts Children’s Hearing
Children who suffer from a noise-induced hearing loss tend to have mild cases or are only impacted in one ear. Still, once hearing is gone, it can’t be recovered. Prevention is crucial. Even if a child doesn’t show signs of hearing damage now, continued noise exposure can catch up with them later in life.
When our ears are exposed to noise, the tiny hairs in our inner ear trigger the nerve cells to fire, which produces a waste product. If the noise is long enough and loud enough, the waste builds up and begins to kill the cells. This is why it’s important to limit the duration that your child’s ears are exposed to loud noises.
Preventing Hearing Loss in Children
Prevention is the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your child’s hearing. Here are some helpful tips:
How Denton Hearing Health Care Can Help
If your child is suffering from a hearing loss, don’t delay. To schedule an appointment with our audiologists, give us a call at 940-387-0550 or request a callback.
