Headphones or earphones are necessities for children these days due to online learning and other activities, but parents may wonder how they can prevent hearing loss in kids who love to use gadgets. Many young people are so used to technology that they could suffer hearing issues when they're in their 40s.
Experts told Today's Parent that one of the real dangers of headphones or earphones use is if children are improperly handling these devices. Susan Scollie of the National Centre for Audiology said that the volume of these gadgets should be limited so as to not damage the ears. The kids shouldn't also have headphones or earphones plastered on them for a long duration, as frequent exposure to loud noises can lead to permanent damage.
More than eight hours of using headphones or earphones, with the sound turned up at 85 decibels (dB), is already harmful to children. According to Healthy Hearing, this decibel level is the standard for protecting adults from hearing loss if they work in factories or airports.
Thus, the experts have recommended an ideal 70 dB sound level or lower to prevent hearing loss in kids. Parents also need to keep in mind that the children's ear canals are shorter, which means that the sounds they hear from their devices are more amplified. The adults need to exercise vigilance and extra care if their kids have to use their earbuds.
Headphones or Earphones: Which is Better?
Headphones or earphones have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to portability, bulkiness, sound quality, comfort, and even choking hazards in children. However, earbuds or earphones tend to be more irritating to use for kids because it has to fit inside their ear canal and may likely push ear wax deeper. Audiologist Boris Chang said that he has personally seen ear wax formed into the shape of earphones.
Younger kids could also be at risk of choking on earphones or buds, especially if an adult does not supervise them. Dr. Sarah Denny of the Ohio State University School said that anything that can "fit through the tube of a toilet paper roll" is a choking hazard for small children, so parents need to keep those earphones away.
Rising Statistics on Ear Issues
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 10 kids in the U.S. between the ages of 6 to 19 years old have damaged hearing due to headphones or earphones use. More kids are also experiencing tinnitus or ringing in the ears, which is an early sign of damage. At the Cook Children's Health Care System in Texas, there has been an influx of kids complaining of ear problems since the pandemic.
The experts said that parents need to have a conversation with their children about how their gadgets could be hurting them. In these talks, the parents must also touch on what hearing loss may feel and how it may impact how they communicate or understand other people.
