How Loud is Too Loud for Kids

How Loud is Too Loud for Kids?

In Hearing Health, Hearing Loss Prevention, Hearing Protection by audseo

If you are a parent or caretaker, then you are most likely scanning for danger in the back of your mind most of the time. It’s our job to protect and care for our kids and therefore many parents come to us wondering how loud, is too loud for kids? This is a valid question and incredibly important to be aware of. Infants and young children are more sensitive to loud noises than adults are, because the ear canal is smaller in children. This creates instances of higher sound pressure in the ears, with more potential for damage. 

There are an estimated five million children between the ages of 6 and 19 who have hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise. This may either be a one-time exposure or a sound which they are exposed to regularly. Recognizing when a sound is too loud could be the difference between permanent hearing damage for your child or the chance to protect their ears from damage.

Understanding Hearing Loss

While we collect sound with our ears, it is actually our brain that interprets these sounds. The brain receives auditory information via tiny hair-like cells called stereocilia. Stereocilia convert audio vibrations into electrical pulses which the brain can comprehend. Stereocilia are unfortunately incredibly fragile and irreparable. They can be damaged by many causes, such as exposure to loud noise, impact to the head, chronic ear infection and even certain medications. 

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the largest causes of hearing loss in people of all ages. It occurs when sound reaches past a certain threshold. Sound intensity or loudness is measured in decibels and when a sound surpasses 85dB, it can start to cause hearing loss. However, it is not just the level of exposure, but the length. For instance, at 85dB, it can take 8 hours of constant exposure for hearing damage to occur. However, as the decibels rise, the amount of time it takes for sound to cause damage shortens quickly. At just three decibels higher, damage can occur in just 4 hours. At 100 dB damage can occur in just 15 minutes.

Activities Which Can Cause NIHL

Does your child use headphones? If so, it is important you monitor this and ensure that safe listening practices are in effect. More than 1 out of every 10 kids in the US, ages 6 to 19 already have some degree of permanent damage to hearing from noise. Much of NIHL in children can be attributed to the use of headphones connected to personal listening devices, which have the potential to deliver decibel levels as high as 110dB which can damage hearing in minutes. Due to the unending amount of media available, children can stream music, movies and more at dangerous decibels for hours on end, often without realizing the extent of damage they are causing to their hearing.

Signs That a Sound is Too Loud

If your child listens to headphones, can you hear their music or media? This could be a sign that they are listening at too loud a volume. As a general rule, if you feel as if you have to shout over a sound to be heard, it is loud enough to be causing damage. Insist that your child’s headphone volume is no higher than 60 percent of its available volume and that they take breaks to give their ears a break. If your child complains of ringing in the ears or decreased hearing sensitivity after being exposed to a sound, then it is most definitely loud enough to be causing hearing loss.

Protecting Your Child’s Hearing

It’s important to remember that if a sound is too loud that they can always move away to lower the risk. However, you may not always be aware of which sounds may be damaging your ears. You can usually measure the volume of places you and your children frequent, to determine the ambient volume of space. If it reads higher than 85 decibels, then it is a good idea to wear hearing protection. The most common types of protection are either foam earplugs or protective earmuffs. If you or your child are displaying signs of hearing loss, it is important to schedule a hearing exam as soon as possible. The sooner you address hearing issues, the more of a chance you have of navigating learning barriers and social issues which can be caused by this issue.