What is Noise Levels are considered Dangerous for Children and Teens?

It’s very difficult to escape from noises that we encounter on a day-to-day basis. Kids and teens have a lower hearing threshold than the average adult, making them more vulnerable to hearing loss. 

They are often placed in noisy settings like a loud band room, or they are constantly listening to loud music, media, or video games with their headphones. Toys that make too much noise can also be dangerous.   

According to the CDC, about 14.9% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 have some range of hearing loss. Parents should be more aware of this. Dangerous noises that we often come across include:

• Concerts or sporting events
• Construction sites
• Emergency sirens
• Fireworks
• Garbage trucks
• Heavy traffic in a city.
• Lawnmowers

The closer you are to the source of the sound, the louder it will be. Under these conditions, children are at higher risk of hearing loss. Spending one evening to see fireworks up close could instantly lead to hearing loss. Their daily environment at school can be too noisy, from bells ringing to loud chatter in a crowded hallway. 

Hearing Protection

One of the main causes of hearing loss in children is dangerous listening habits. Children and teens generally listen to music, watch videos, or play games with earbuds resting snugly in their ears while the volume is turned up.

For teens who are traveling to and from school, they tend to blast the volume to cut out the background noise. Even though that usually works, the risks of hearing loss become higher.

The maximum volume level on personal listening devices can reach up to 100 decibels (dB). This is the same volume as an extremely loud leaf blower. It’s dangerous for anyone, especially kids to listen to loud music that’s blaring directly into their ears.

Protect Your Child’s Hearing Health 

Talk to your children, or grandchildren about noise levels. Make them aware of the damage that can happen to their hearing. Rules need to be set for a safe listening routine. Volume levels should be kept at 60 dB or lower for babies, 82 dB or lower for children, 70-85 dB for teens. 
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1. The volume level should stay at 60% or lower. 
2. Breaks should be taken during headphone usage, or when listening to any type of media, music, and video games.
3. Download a free decibel reader app on your teen’s phone. It can be used to check the volume at school, on the bus, or in any loud environment. Spread awareness to your kids about dangerous noise levels, and make sure they are prepared for potential noisy spaces by carrying earplugs or, if possible, avoiding those places altogether.
4. Noise-canceling headphones are a great solution to block out background noise so that your children won’t be inclined to turn the volume up on their music. 
5. Lead by example. If you take your children to a loud sports arena or concert, wear hearing protection and show them how to wear hearing protection. If you have young children, put earmuffs on them.
6. Encourage your children to walk away from any loud sounds. If the space they are in is too loud (and if they cannot verbally communicate with people close by) tell them that it’s time to leave the room.  

If your children don’t take you seriously, find real accounts of people living with hearing loss and show them how difficult it can sometimes be to navigate through life with it.

If you, your child, or grandchild experience hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  

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