In today’s world, headphones have become a common part of daily life, especially for kids. Whether it’s for listening to music, watching videos, or playing games, the use of headphones has increased significantly. However, many parents are unaware of the potential risks that excessive headphone use can have on their child’s hearing health.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: What You Need to Know
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can occur when the ear is exposed to loud sounds for extended periods. Sounds at or above 85 decibels (dB) can cause permanent damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, which are crucial for transmitting sound signals to the brain. Unfortunately, once these hair cells are damaged, they cannot be repaired, leading to permanent hearing loss.
Headphones can easily reach these dangerous sound levels, especially if your child listens to music at high volumes for long periods. In fact, prolonged exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can put your child at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
So, how can you tell if your child’s headphones are too loud?
Simple Ways to Check the Volume
- Talk to Your Child While They’re Listening to Music A quick and easy way to gauge the volume is to talk to your child while they are listening to music. If they cannot hear you from a few feet away, it’s likely that their music is too loud. The fact that they can’t hear you is an indicator that their headphones may be reaching dangerous levels of sound.
- Hold the Headphones Out at Arm’s Length Another simple method is to ask your child to turn up the volume to their preferred level and then hold the headphones at arm’s length. If you can hear the music from a few feet away, it’s a strong sign that the volume is too high, and the sound is reaching unsafe levels for your child’s ears.
- Use a Sound Meter For a more objective way of checking the sound levels, you can invest in a sound meter. This device measures sound levels in decibels (dB). To use it, simply connect your child’s headphones to the audio source, have them adjust the volume, and turn on the sound meter. Place the microphone of the sound meter directly in the headphone cups and check the reading on the screen. If the reading exceeds 85 dB, the volume is too high and could potentially cause hearing damage.
The 60/60 Rule: A Guide for Safe Listening
The best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is to follow the 60/60 rule. This rule recommends that children (and adults) should listen to music at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. By following this simple guideline, you can help protect your child’s hearing while still allowing them to enjoy their favorite music or videos.
Protecting Your Child’s Hearing Health
By taking a few simple steps, such as monitoring the volume and following the 60/60 rule, you can ensure your child’s headphones are not putting them at risk of Noise-induced hearing loss
If you are concerned about your child’s hearing health or would like to schedule a hearing test, contact Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic today. Our team is here to help protect your child’s hearing for years to come.