We are always looking for ways to keep our kids quiet and entertained during a long car ride. Whether they are listening to music, playing video games or watching a movie in the back seat, they are most likely wearing headphones. Have you ever wondered if this is safe for their ears?
Why It’s a Problem
With the explosion of smart phones, portable gaming systems and media players, more children and teenagers are listening to earbuds and headphones at dangerously high volumes that can damage their hearing. According to the American Osteopathic Association, 1 in 5 teens has some form of hearing loss. This rate is about 30% higher than it was in the 1990s. Many experts believe this change is due to the increased use of headphones.
Listening to devices at levels greater than 80 decibels (dB) for extended periods of time may be dangerous. Over time, the hair cells in the ear start to break down because they are not receiving proper blood flow and oxygen. This essentially exhausts the auditory system, causing hearing loss. Unfortunately, hearing loss is permanent and cannot be reversed. Even mild hearing loss due to excessive noise could lead to developmental delays in speech and language.
Children are especially susceptible to this damage because they are not aware of the dangers and do not fully understand what it means to be too loud. How our children listen to their music and other devices can greatly impact their chance of having hearing issues down the road. Unfortunately, according to World Health Organization experts, a rise in hearing loss is predicted due to unsafe use of personal audio devices.
What to Watch Out For
How will you know if the headphones are affecting your child’s hearing? The type of hearing loss due to headphones is usually gradual over a long period of time and without obvious warning signs. The only way to determine if your child has hearing loss is to have them undergo a thorough hearing test and medical examination by a hearing specialist. If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, it is a good idea to have them evaluated:
- Ringing, roaring, hissing or buzzing in the ear.
- Difficulty understanding speech in noisy places or places with poor acoustics.
- Muffled sounds and a feeling that the ear is plugged.
- Listening to the TV or radio at a higher volume than in the past.
How To Protect Your Child
You do not have to ban your children from ever using headphones again. By taking the following important steps, you can help protect them from damaging their ears.
Choose External Headphones:
Experts suggest that children use larger, external headphones that rest over the ear opening as opposed to earbuds that are placed directly in the ear. External headphones consist of small speakers that are held close to the ear, while earbuds focus sound more directly into the ear. Earbuds also allow more background noise to seep in, so children often turn up the volume to compensate, causing more damage to their ears. Additionally, earbuds are not typically designed for children’s smaller ears, which can prevent them from hearing properly.
Try Noise-Cancelling Headphones:
Background noises can be distracting to headphone listeners. Their first reaction to this extra sound is to turn the volume up, drowning out the unwanted noise. Children especially tend to do this. By investing in high-quality noise reduction headphones that cover the entire ear, you can solve this problem. They will keep outside noise from interfering with the sound coming out of the headphones and eliminate the need to turn the volume up to dangerous levels.
Set Specific Volume Limits:
Most MP3 players can produce sounds up to 120 dB, which is the equivalent of the volume of a rock concert. At that level, hearing loss can occur after only about an hour and 15 minutes! The consensus among experts is that children should avoid extended exposure to volumes above 80 dB. Above this level – even for short periods of time – can result in hearing loss. By keeping below 80 dB, children can safely listen for about eight hours without damage. Although the maximum volume limit is adjustable on many devices, your children may be able to disable the function and increase the volume on their own. It is critical to set strict guidelines about the maximum volume level allowable in order to protect their hearing.
Look For Headphones Designed Especially For Children:
Some headphones on the market are designed to keep the volume at a safe level to prevent noise induced hearing loss. Look for headphones with a built-in volume limiter to prevent sound levels from exceeding 80 dB.
Limit Listening Time:
The amount of time your children spend on their headphones plays a major factor in how their hearing is impacted. Moderation is key in protecting your children’s ears. Avoiding excessive use of listening devices will go a long way in preventing hearing loss. The American Osteopathic Association suggests using the “60/60 rule” as a guideline. This means using only 60% of the device’s volume level for no more than 60 minutes at a time. After 60 minutes, your children should give their ears a break for at least an hour.
Monitor Use:
Educate your children about the risks of listening to their devices too loudly. Explain to them how important it is to be aware of the volume level. Check in periodically to make sure your child is keeping the sound at a safe volume. You should be able to gauge the volume just by standing next to them while they are wearing headphones. If you can hear sound coming from the headphones, then it is too loud. Also, make sure to check the volume setting on the device.
Sandi Schwartz is an award-winning author and journalist, and mother of two. She has 25 years of experience writing about parenting, wellness and environmental issues. Her books Finding Ecohappiness and Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness inspire families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. Learn more at ecohappinessproject.com.
Liam McCrickard holds a B.A. in creative and professional writing from Goucher College. He is former assistant editor at Washington Parent. He works as a freelance designer, writer and editor of tabletop role-playing games.
Sandi Schwartz is an award-winning author, freelance journalist and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness and environmental issues. As the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project, her mission is to inspire and educate families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. She is the author of the book Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, and the children’s book, Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness.
