Don’t let holiday cheer
damage your child’s ears
Noise from toys can be comparable to noise from power tools,
leaving kids vulnerable to hearing loss
There’s nothing more exciting for a child
than getting a new toy or game. But all
that buzzing, zapping and pinging could
damage a child’s hearing.
Children and teens exposed to loud sounds
for long periods of time are at risk for noise-
induced hearing loss.
“The best way to prevent noise-induced
hearing loss is to avoid exposure to excessive
noise,” said Angela Black, MD, pediatric
ear, nose and throat physician with Nemours
Children’s Specialty
Care. “Loud noise
can cause hearing
loss, and the
damage can be
permanent.”
Sound levels are measured in decibels. The
higher the decibel number, the louder the
sound. According to the National Institutes
of Health, repeated exposure to sound over
85 decibels can cause permanent hearing
loss. A noisy restaurant, heavy traffic and
power lawnmower produce sounds around
85 decibels. Using devices with earphones at
maximum volume
can generate
more than 100
decibels,
loud enough
to cause
permanent
hearing
damage.