While a commonly held misconception is that hearing loss impacts only older people, that is not the case. In fact, only one-third of those with hearing impairment are over the age of 64.
Government data shows that approximately 5.2 million children ages 6 to 19 already have permanent hearing damage, mostly due to loud environmental noises, defined as levels that exceed 85 decibels (dB).
Research indicates that, as far as children and young people are concerned, toys and loud music are two important sources of excessive noise. Every year, toys far exceeding the 85dB threshold are manufactured and sold, and parents are urged to be vigilant about keeping these potentially harmful toys out of their children’s reach.
For teenagers, music emitted by portable audio equipment as well as at live concerts is largely to blame for hearing loss. Preventive measures include lowering the volume on the personal devices to a safe level, and using noise-canceling headphones at concerts.
To learn more visit: Child Hearing Loss: Many Cases are Preventable.
