Kids and Hearing Loss

Some hearing loss threats are specific to children, and we'll include that information here. In addition, be sure to check the section on music and hearing loss, because music may be the greatest hearing loss threat your child faces.

Also be sure to check out our section on toys!

July 2002 - Kid's Ear Saver Protects Kids' Hearing

January 2005 - Still not concerned about the effects of NIHL on your kid's hearing? This article from the House Ear Institute may change your mind!

September 2005 - The Dangerous Decibels project is a public health campaign designed to reduce the incidence and prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and tinnitus (ringing in the ear) by changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of school-aged children.

January 2006 - Are kids' toys too loud?

February 2006 - What Young People Don't Know About Hearing Loss Can Hurt Them

January 2008 - Effectiveness of "Dangerous Decibels," a School-Based Hearing Loss Prevention Program

February 2009 - Nursery school noise causing tinnitus

March 2009 - Protecting Tiny Ears from Too Much Noise

October 2010 - U of M Research Shows U.S. Teen Hearing Loss Better than Reported

October 2010 - Adolescent Hearing Loss on the Rise

October 2010 - Teens at Risk: Audiologists Respond

December 2010 - Hearing Loss in Children: Annual Noisy Toys List

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Kid's Ear Saver Protects Kids' Hearing

July 2002

Editor: I recently got an email telling me about a product that prevents kids from turning up their walkman too loud. Here's the letter from a satisfied mom. For more information, point your browser to www.kidsearsaver.com.

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I purchased a new product last week from a company called the Kid's Ear Saver Company.... it's an adapter that permanently attaches to my child's walkman and prevents her from turning up the volume too loud. I have such a terrific peace of mind knowing I'm helping prevent permanent hearing loss in my daughter. I think you might want to check it out, and mention it on your site.

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Tis the Season to be Loud

January 2006

"Hearing Review" Editor-in-Chief Karl Strom published an opinion piece in the December issue that addressed the volume of many of today's toys. Included in the article were the results of a fairly comprehensive survey of current toys as well as information on a new voluntary toy industry acoustic noise standard.

Here's the story!

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What Young People Don't Know About Hearing Loss Can Hurt Them 

February 2006

According to survey results published in a spring 2005 issue of Pediatrics (abstract available free; full article available for a fee), only 8 percent of respondents completing an Internet survey that targeted adolescents and young adults defined hearing loss as a "very big problem." Respondents to the survey, which was hosted on the MTV.com Web site, ranked hearing loss well below other health issues, such as sexually transmitted disease (50 percent), drug and alcohol use (47 percent), depression (44 percent), and even acne (18 percent). Yet despite the low percentage of respondents identifying hearing loss as a problem, more than 60 percent reported tinnitus after attending a concert or other loud music venue, and more than 40 percent reported temporary hearing impairment after such an event. Only 14 percent reported using earplugs in places where loud music was played, although 59 percent said they could be motivated to use ear protection if so advised by a medical professional.  Full Story

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Effectiveness of "Dangerous Decibels," a School-Based Hearing Loss Prevention Program

January 2008

Results: Fourth-grade students who participated in the Dangerous Decibels presentation exhibited significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes related to hearing and hearing loss prevention. These improvements were maintained 3 months after the presentation. Seventh-grade students also experienced long-term improvements in their knowledge base. However, attitudes and intended behaviors in 7th graders returned to baseline levels 3 months postpresentation.

Conclusion: The Dangerous Decibels hearing loss prevention program was effective at producing long-term improvements in the knowledge base of 4th- and 7th-grade students. Future studies should include components on peer pressure and should incorporate repeated, multimodality interventions to increase the likelihood of long-term improvement in adolescents.  Full Story

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Nursery school noise causing tinnitus

Editor: I guess this isn't surprising news given how loud nursery schools can be, but I have to admit I never thought about it before. Here's the story from the folks at hear-it.org

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February 2008

One child in six in Norwegian nursery schools suffers from ringing in the ears because of excessive noise. The same is true for one in every four employees. The data was compiled by the Norwegian Educational union and the government Labour Board.

Nursery school noise may cause stress, headaches, ringing in the ears, learning difficulties and in the worst cases, hearing loss in both children and employees.

Based on the most recent statistics, the union and the Labour Board have launched a common campaign, titled 'Good Sound'. The aim is to lower noise levels in Norwegian nursery schools and reduce the adverse effects on children and staff.

According to a Labour Board report issued in 2005, 75 percent of nursery school employees are exposed to excessive noise. Yet, just one nursery school in three had monitored noise levels.

The 'Good Sound' campaign is using noise meters, informational materials and toy animals to create attention to and awareness of nursery school noise and the resulting adverse effects.

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Protecting Tiny Ears from Too Much Noise

March 2009