Noisy toys or instruments can hurt your child's hearing


By AGENCY

Noise-cancelling headphones are one option to help protect your child’s ears from excessively loud sounds. — TNS

Dear Mayo Clinic: My teenager received new headphones for Christmas while my preteen asked for a drum set. It’s been a bit noisy around here. How can I protect their developing hearing?

Hearing loss is often thought of as something that happens to the elderly.

But we live, work and play in a noisy environment, and hearing loss affects the lives of people of all ages.

The US Hearing Health Foundation reports that nearly 50 million people in the United States suffer from hearing loss in at least one ear, including 20% of teens.

In younger children, hearing loss may be caused by playing with noisy toys.

Many toys that young children play with can produce levels equal to 90 decibels, which is as loud as, or louder than, a lawn mower.

These levels typically require hearing protection.

The volume can turn up as high as 120dB, which is as loud as an aeroplane taking off because kids often play with toys near their faces, ears and mouths.

Your child’s ears are delicate, and every home with kids has its share of noisy toys.

As a parent, it’s a good idea to test toys in the store before buying.

Test a toy’s volume closer to your face, not at arm’s length.

Play like a child – hold the toy up by your ear, or crouch to a child’s height and play with it on the ground.

If a toy sounds too loud to you, it’s too loud for your child.

You can also research the Noisy Toys List from the US Sight & Hearing Association.

Here is a helpful guide for gifts:

> Toys

Try placing clear tape over the speaker.

Some tests have shown this lowers the sound level and may be safer for kids’ ears.

Every now and then, turn the sound off or down on audible playthings.

> Music and headphones

For children and teens glued to their music player or smart device, parents should stand near their child when they have headphones on and the music is playing.

If you can hear the music, it’s too loud.

Output-limiting headphones are an excellent gift option.

In most cases, they automatically limit the output level to about 85dB, which is a safe volume for up to eight hours.

Many devices, such as handphones and tablets, have noise output-limiting settings that can be activated.

You can also invest in custom earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones that help block background noise, allowing you to decrease the volume.

> Instruments

Did someone receive an instrument for the holidays?

These are fun, creative gifts, but there are things to consider so that hearing isn’t sacrificed to make music.

For all musicians, but especially drummers, smart hearing healthcare is essential.

Older musicians may benefit from musician earplugs that limit sound without compromising musical integrity.

Drummers should try practising with drum pads as much as possible.

This will eliminate loud noises while still offering a surface for rehearsing stick strokes.

Another approach is to limit practice to intervals.

Try practising with ear protection for 30 to 60 minutes, taking a break for the same amount of time to give your ears a rest, then going back to practice.

Don’t forget about hearing healthcare when you’re shopping for gifts not only during the holidays, but throughout the year whenever your children receive toys.

Make sure your gifts protect hearing and support healthy ears. – By Katie Dease/Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service

Katie Dease is an audiologist at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, US.

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Hearing , toys , noise

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