Can they hear you now?Children are increasingly exposed to health risks from noise through earphones and headphones.

It’s no surprise to see teenagers wearing headphones or earbuds, but national polls suggest they’re becoming more prevalent among younger children.

Two in three parents say their children ages 5 to 12 use a personal audio device, and half of parents of children ages 5 to 8 say their elementary school-age children use a device. It is reported that

According to CS Mott Children’s, University of Michigan Health, half of parents whose children use headphones or earbuds say their child uses them for at least an hour a day, and one in six. reported that a typical day for children is at least two hours of screen time. National poll of hospitals on children’s health.

“In recent years, we have primarily been concerned about teenagers overusing audio devices. However, earphones have become increasingly popular among younger children, and children are They are exposed to more intense noise on a regular basis,” said Mott Pediatrician Susan Woolford, MD, MPH. Co-director of the Mott Poll.

“The risks of noise exposure for young children have historically included noisy, idiosyncratic events such as concerts and fireworks, but parents may underestimate the potential harm from excessive use of eavesdropping devices. “It can be difficult to know whether a child’s noise exposure is healthy.”

Research shows that children are most likely to use these devices at home, school, and in the car. Also, about a quarter of parents say their child sometimes uses an audio device on a plane, but fewer say their child uses an audio device on the bus, outside, or in bed. She was less than 10%.

Half of parents agree that headphones or earbuds help entertain their children.

In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement on the need to reduce noise risks to children, saying children and teens may be more exposed through personal eavesdropping devices. Evidence is mounting.

According to Woolford, long-term or extreme exposure to large amounts of noise can lead to long-term health problems such as hearing loss and tinnitus.

“Young children are more vulnerable to potential harm from noise exposure because their auditory systems are still developing. Their ear canals are also smaller than adults, so the perceived noise level will increase,” Woolford said.

“Small hair cells in the inner ear help us hear by picking up sound waves. If these are damaged or die, the hearing loss is irreversible.”

She added that children’s noise exposure can affect their sleep, schoolwork, language, stress levels and even blood pressure.

More parents of children aged 9 to 12 years than children aged 5 to 8 report that their children use headphones or earphones, and daily usage rates tend to be higher in older age groups. The survey results suggest that.

However, only half of parents said they try to limit their children’s use of audio devices, citing strategies such as encouraging their children to take breaks, setting screen time, and using timers.

Parents whose children use headphones for more than two hours a day are also less likely to set time or volume limits than parents who report their children use headphones less.

Mr Woolford offers four tips to reduce the risk of children being exposed to noise through headphones or earbuds.

Monitor volume levels

Parents can minimize the negative effects of audio device use by monitoring and adjusting their child’s volume and device usage time, Woolford says.

She advises parents to follow the 60/60 rule. That means your child should limit their use of audio devices to no more than 60 minutes per day and no more than 60% of their maximum volume.

If the sound level of your listening device is less than 70 dBA (the relative loudness of decibels you can hear), noise-related damage is unlikely to occur.

“A good way to tell if your audio equipment is too loud is if your child wearing headphones can’t hear you when you’re at arm’s length,” she says. Ta.

Parents can also limit the risk to their children by identifying the amount of time spent on audio devices or using a timer to record it.

Use noise-cancelling or volume-limited headphones

Parents should check the information on the device packaging to identify products that limit volume and consider noise exposure risks when purchasing audio equipment for their children. .

However, Woolford warns that some products marketed as “child-safe” do not limit the volume to 70 decibels.

However, children should avoid using noise-canceling listening devices in situations where sound perception is important for safety.

“Noise-canceling devices may help prevent children from turning the volume up too high,” Woolford said. “However, these devices should not be used when children are engaged in activities where hearing their surroundings is important for their safety, such as walking or biking.”

Allow children to take a break from personal eavesdropping devices

Woolford says parents should help their children intentionally have “device-free” time each day. This may include putting away or locking your child’s audio device when a time limit has passed.

Children may also be encouraged to enjoy music at a lower volume in their room instead of using earphones to reduce noise.

Woolford says personal audio devices should also be avoided when children are asleep or at bedtime.

Be aware of early symptoms of hearing loss

If parents feel their child is at risk of hearing loss from the use of audio devices, they recommend consulting with a pediatrician, audiologist, or ear, nose and throat specialist.

“Early signs of hearing loss include making repeated requests, hearing frequent ringtones, speaking loudly to people nearby, speech delays, and not responding to loud noises,” Woolford said.

“Health care providers may be able to help parents by briefly explaining hearing loss so they understand why their child may be limiting their use of audio devices.”