In our increasingly connected world, earbuds are a common sight, especially among children and teenagers. While these small devices offer convenience and fun, using them without knowing the risks can pose a real threat to your child's developing hearing.
At Endeavor Health, we take a proactive approach to protecting your child’s precious ears. The science behind understanding children's hearing has seen great strides, with routine newborn hearing screenings allowing doctors to identify issues early. If you have concerns about your child's earbud use or hearing, please call Endeavor Health at (847) 504-3300 to connect with a doctor today.
Understanding the risks
A main concern with earbud use in children is how close they are to the eardrum. Unlike over-ear headphones, earbuds send sound directly into the ear canal, which can make the sound 6 to 9 decibels louder. These devices can produce sound levels up to 100 decibels. To give you a scale, the average conversation hovers around 60 to 70 decibels, while the average rock concert can blast to 120 decibels. When paired with long listening times, this can be quite damaging to a child’s hearing.
Medical professionals have seen a noticeable increase in how long people use earbuds at unsafe volumes. A 2020 study shockingly revealed that around a quarter of individuals from adolescence to mid-adulthood regularly use earbuds at unsafe volumes. Teaching younger people to be mindful of this is the key to avoiding long-term hearing damage.
The 60/60 rule and other sound strategies
A good rule of thumb for safe earbud use is the 60/60 rule. This guideline recommends keeping earbud volume at 60% of its loudest setting and limiting use to no more than 60 minutes at a time, with breaks in between. Spending too much time around loud noise can cause lasting damage to the cochlear hair cells, which don’t grow back. This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, affecting a child's quality of life, learning and social connections.
Parents have several ways to encourage safe listening habits. Some devices have built-in volume limits, often keeping sound at safer decibels, 85 or below. Noise-canceling headphones can also be helpful as they reduce the need to turn up the volume to block out outside noise.
Beyond technology, clear communication and demonstrating safe listening habits yourself can greatly influence your child's listening choices. It's also important to be aware that some products labeled "kid-safe" primarily refer to their size and shape, not always their volume limits. Always monitor how they're used and understand the actual volume capabilities of the earbuds.
Recognizing hearing changes
Hearing loss, regardless of when it occurs, can have a ripple effect on many aspects of life. For children especially, it can impact how their brain processes their surroundings. Hearing problems can affect school performance, social development and might even lead to social isolation.
Parents should watch for common signs of hearing difficulty in their children. These could include a child repeatedly asking "what," having trouble focusing in school or a noticeable drop in their grades. If any of these signs appear, it may be time to get their hearing checked by a professional.
The future of protective hearing
New technologies are providing innovative ways to protect hearing. Some modern devices, like certain AirPods, now include hearing tests. Features that monitor volume in real-time, such as those on Apple Watches, can actually warn users about unsafe noise levels and suggest when to leave a loud area.
These developments offer valuable tools for preventing problems and intervening early. The growing understanding, even among younger generations, about wearing earplugs at loud events like concerts, is a positive development.
Listen, look, and learn
In a world where earbuds are a part of daily life, it's very important for parents to understand the dangers of long-term and loud earbud use. Habits formed now can have major effects later. Have ongoing talks with your children about safe listening, set clear limits and be a good example yourself.
At Endeavor Health, our expert ENT’s can offer tests to identify serious hearing problems before they start. By being proactive and informed, you can help protect your child's hearing and ensure they can continue to enjoy sounds safely. To learn more about protecting your child's hearing or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, call Endeavor Health at (847) 504-3300 or visit us online today.
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