The Public Health Hazard Parents Aren't Thinking About—Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
From earbuds to white noise machines, the AAP is warning about the damage being done to our kids' hearing.
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As parents, there are dangers we know to protect our kids from, such as secondhand smoke, sunburns, touching something too hot, and not looking both ways before crossing the street. But now the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is warning against another prevalent danger to kids, from infancy to adolescence. It’s a health hazard many parents may not even be thinking about, but that affects children every day and can cause long-term harm.
In a statement shared on October 21, 2023, the AAP is sounding the alarm about noise-induced hearing loss. Contrary to popular belief, this irreversible damage is not just a problem for older people. Importantly, hearing loss also has the potential to lead to related health and social challenges, as well as to negatively impact well-being.
Of course, many of us are aware of unhealthy noise exposure at a concert or fireworks show. However, with the rise of personal listening devices in younger and younger children, hearing loss experienced at home is an increasing risk. But there are several types of noise we are exposed to all the time, and infants and smaller children are more susceptible than adults to potential hearing damage—which can accumulate over time.
Study co-author Sophie J. Balk, MD, FAAP, the attending pediatrician at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and a professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, shares the biggest takeaway from the research with Parents. “Noise is underrecognized as a public health hazard so many people do not realize that going to a loud event—a celebration, a social dance, even a restaurant—can be harmful to their health. Infants’ and children’s auditory systems are rapidly growing and developing, so they may be especially sensitive to the harmful effects of noise at these events.”
What Types of Noise Are Kids Exposed To?
From environmental noise to occupational, recreational, and indoor noise, our ears are constantly subject to stimulation. As parents, we want to be aware of all the types of noise our kids come in contact with:
Environmental noise: Noise from traffic, a train, a leaf blower, or a lawn mower falls into this category.
Recreational noise: One comes in contact with this oftentimes amplified sound at a concert or party.
Indoor noise: This is the type of noise, that the AAP study is warning against most vehemently. It includes infant white noise machines, personal listening devices like tablets and iPods, toys, TVs, and video games.
Occupational noise: This category wouldn’t apply to most little ones, since it’s the type of noise one encounters at work.
How Most Kids Are Exposed to Unhealthy Levels of Noise
It tends to be older kids most exposed to recreational noise, and as parents, we all recognize the damage this can cause.
“We want parents and teens to be especially careful about sources of very loud noise such as rock concerts, sporting events, and fireworks displays,” Dr. Balk says. “Very loud noise can damage hearing quickly and irreversibly. The louder the volume, the shorter the time it takes to damage hearing.”
But you don’t have to attend a Taylor Swift concert to be at risk. There are culprits of potential hearing damage in our very own homes. For instance, something you might not think of might be sitting in your child's room right now.
“Infant sleep machines, also called white noise machines, are promoted to help sleep. Research shows that some of these machines can emit loud sounds and could potentially damage hearing,” Dr. Balk explains. A recent study showed that "excessive white noise exposure has the potential to lead to noise-induced hearing loss and other adverse health effects in the neonatal and infant population".
Not only are the sleep machines perhaps not as innocuous as some parents (me included!) may have thought, but children’s toys are also seemingly getting louder. “Young kids often play with toys close to their face,” Dr. Balk also points out.
There are some other household items you may not be thinking about, says Kiley Trott, MD, a pediatric ENT with Yale Medicine, and an assistant professor of surgery at Yale School of Medicine.
“Everyday items like hair dryers, lawn equipment, televisions, and stereo systems can be problematic if run for prolonged periods at high levels,” Dr. Trott adds. “It’s possible that a television could be emitting harmful noise if kept on in the background all day.”
Dr. Balk considers personal listening devices a serious public health hazard. “Parents may not know that more than one billion young people risk hearing loss resulting from prolonged and excessive exposure to loud sounds, including music from their personal listening devices, according to the World Health Organization,” she warns.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Excessive Noise Exposure?
Hearing loss is not the only potential challenge a child who is exposed to prolonged, excessive noise may face.
Dave Fabry, PhD, the chief hearing health officer at Starkey Laboratories, a hearing aid company, tells Parents that hearing problems can have a big impact on overall health and well-being. “Those suffering from hearing loss often withdraw from social situations, and untreated hearing loss can lead to feelings of loneliness, and cause social isolation,” Dr. Fabry explains.
Dr. Trott expands on that idea. “Intact hearing is critical for developing speech and verbal language skills. Undiagnosed hearing loss can lead to learning difficulties and lower educational attainment,” he says.
It’s important to note that according to Dr. Balk, “Research shows sociodemographic disparities in noise exposure. Higher levels of environmental noise—from traffic, airplanes, railroads—are more likely to be found in locations with more non-white populations, and residents of lower socioeconomic status. Higher levels of environmental noise are linked to learning problems, problems with sleep, and physiologic disturbances.” The AAP's statement highlights these effects and calls for increased societal awareness of this impact.
How Can Parents Avoid Hearing Damage in Kids?
Dr. Balk wants everyone to pay more attention to our hearing, which as she says, “Has to last a lifetime and once hearing is lost from noise exposure, the damage is permanent and can’t be restored with medical treatment.” The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. “We can start to protect hearing starting in infancy,” she explains.
Dr. Fabry adds, “The best thing parents can do is to help their kids develop healthy hearing habits. Healthy hearing is important at every age.”
The experts we spoke with aren’t recommending we don’t ever enjoy concerts and other events with our kids, but we are encouraged to do so safely. “Just like we want people to consider how to protect their skin when they’re going to be in the sun, we want people to anticipate how they will protect their ears when going into a noisy situation,” Dr. Balk stresses.
Tips to Prevent Noise Damage in Children
They offer these suggestions to help prevent noise damage to our children's hearing.
Use hearing protection at concerts and during fireworks displays. This even applies to teens, who should be made aware of the hazards.
Use white noise machines at as low a volume as possible, for as short a time as possible, and as far away from the baby as possible.
Consider how loud a toy is when deciding to make a purchase, and set the volume to the lowest level.
Encourage kids to take breaks from listening by limiting TV time, and headphone usage.
Download the free SoundCheck Live app from the Apple or Google Play store. The app displays current, average, and maximum sound levels, and provides guidance for safe exposure levels and time limits.
Dr. Fabry offers this helpful rule of thumb: “Parents, if you can hear the song your child is listening to while they’re wearing earbuds, or can easily decipher the conversation they are having, that’s a sign the volume needs to be turned down.”
He also suggests that all members of the family follow the 60/60 rule, by limiting listening to 60 minutes and keeping the volume below 60%.
Signs a Child May Have Hearing Loss
Since hearing loss is irreversible, and if left undiagnosed, can lead to long-term ill health effects, recognizing the signs of a problem and getting help right away is key. “The sooner you can catch a hearing problem, the sooner you can begin to treat it,” Dr. Fabry says. “If you notice your child continually asking people to repeat themselves, or if they have trouble understanding conversations in a noisy environment, these are signs that there could be hearing damage.”
Dr. Trott adds that your child turning the TV up to a higher volume, or having to speak more loudly to get their attention, are also signs they could be experiencing hearing loss.
“If you notice a problem, consult with your child’s primary care provider or a hearing specialist as soon as possible to avoid further damage,” Dr. Fabry says.
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Read the original article on Parents.
