Personal music devices have long been known to pose a threat to hearing health. Too often is it too easy to deliver dangerous noise levels directly to the ear canal via ear buds and headphones. A new study is not only confirming the danger of personal music players, it makes explicitly clear of how much these devices can impact young listeners.

Noise Related Hearing Loss

The most common type of hearing loss is noise related hearing loss where exposure to dangerously loud noises permanently damages our hearing. Contrary to popular belief, once our hearing is damaged, it cannot be repaired.

Our hearing depends on tiny, sensitive hair cells in our inner ear. Hair cells are incredibly sensitive – they have evolved to detect sound waves in the air and send those signals to the brain. Hair cells are powerful, but they are also very fragile and they have no way to repair or replace themselves. This means that once a hair cell is damaged it is permanently out of commission and when that happens, a permanent gap in our hearing ability is created. When more and more hearing is damaged, it becomes a notable aspect of the way we hear: significant hearing loss.

Children and Hearing Loss

Usually, noise-related hearing loss gradually worsens throughout our life, becoming more noticeable as we age. However, children have very sensitive ears and hearing that needs to be protected early in life to prevent permanent early damage from occurring.

The world is getting louder and risks for childhood hearing loss is greater than ever. In addition to traffic, construction and loud noises folded into everyday life, the way we listen to sound at home is also a factor. The use of headphones around the house for music, television and video games can be an unchecked source of hearing damage to young ears.

Portable Devices and Hearing Loss

A new Dutch study reveals just how great the threat portable devices pose to young listeners is. In surveying over 3000 children, aged 9 through 11, researchers found that those with any exposure to regular headphone listening were more than twice as likely to have sustained hearing damage. Researchers looked at high-frequency hearing loss that is an indicator of noise related hearing loss in children. Of their 3,316 participants, 14% demonstrated permanent hearing damage and portable devices may be a deciding factor.

It is both hard to monitor headphone volume levels and difficult for a child to understand noise safety making headphone listening an unheard threat to hearing. Added to this, ear buds and headphones deliver sound directly to the ear canal making harmful listening habits and direct hearing damage much more likely. 

Hearing Protection at Any Age

Recent surveys have also shown that modern kids are heavy users of portable devices. While 40% of the children in the Dutch study regularly used portable devices, nearly 90% of teenagers do. With early hearing loss on the rise, it is time to change the way kids listen.

A good first step is to eliminate headphones from your child’s life. Instead of listening via headphones, listen to music and media through the device’s speakers or small auxiliary speakers. You will have better control over your child’s noise exposure and can better keep tabs on what they hear. Listening to sound at a reasonable volume shouldn’t disrupt the household and can keep everyone’s hearing safe.

If you don’t want to take headphones out of your home, it is still important to limit the volume your child’s ears are exposed to. Most devices and headphones are capable of delivering sound at harmful volumes, but there are ways to restrict this. Apple device users can make use of parental “restrictions” controls to set a maximum volume. Android volume can be limited with a simple sound limiting app. Also consider using sound-safe headphones that will limit sounds to a safe volume.

Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services

Hearing issues are nothing to wait on, so when you notice changes to the way you hear it is time to set up an appointment with Orange County Physicians Hearing Services. At Orange County Physicians' Hearing Services, we hear your needs, from thorough testing to finding the right solution for your lifestyle. We can connect you with the top brands in hearing technology and unbeatable customer care.