The most common type of hearing loss among children is called sensorineural which occurs due to damage of the inner ear. The damage can be caused by an infection, injury or most commonly, through exposure to loud noise. This type of damage cannot be repaired.
Although sensorineural hearing loss cannot improve, it doesn't get worse either. The person has difficulty hearing softer sounds which can impair the ability to comprehend speech. This type of hearing loss can be corrected by using hearing aids. The other types of hearing loss are conductive and mixed. Conductive hearing loss occurs when the sound cannot be conducted through to the inner ear. Surgery can usually correct this type of hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
What causes hearing loss in children
The most common cause of hearing loss in children is very loud noises. There are noises which you have control and others which you have no control.
Loud music, especially music played through headphones can damage the ears easily. Many children have been found to suffer from hearing loss caused by listening to very loud noises. Listening to loud music for over 10 minutes can cause permanent hearing loss. If your children listen to loud music consider telling them to turn it down a little.
Another possible cause of hearing loss is playing musical instruments loudly. It has been noted that children who play in a band or school orchestra are more likely to have hearing loss. If the music is played in a small room then this will be much more of a risk.
How can this be resolved?
Educate your children about noise induced hearing loss. Teach them the causes of hearing loss and what precautions to take.
First you should try to determine the safe volume level of mp3 players and other audio devices which your children listen with headphones. Make sure you listen to the music yourself so that you can decide what a safe volume is.
If your children are being exposed to loud noises, encourage them to wear earplugs. They should wear ear plugs while cutting the grass or practicing in the band.
The lesson here is to be forewarned. Use precautions and common sense to set limits for children. Teach them the importance of taking care of their hearing and help them understand when noise levels are too loud.
On the top of the list of noise induced hearing loss causes is listening to loud music. It is estimated that 10 million baby boomers suffer from hearing loss, much of which is attributed to attending rock concerts in the beginning of 1960s and 70s. Hearing damage that results from this type of noise often happens gradually and the effects are not known until many years later.
The increased use of technology has been associated with hearing loss in baby boomers. Portable listening technology expanded from the walkman to the MP3 player to the iPod. Many users of these portable devices listen at high volume for long period of time, unaware that their bad listening habits could eventually lead to hearing loss. A recent study found that listening to an iPod on the highest volume level is capable of causing hearing damage after several minutes.
At home, appliances and tools such as vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, food mixers and hedge trimmers emit dangerous levels of noise. Listening to the television or stereo at high volume can also contribute to hearing loss.
At the workplace or on the job, workers are exposed to dangerous levels of sound from heavy machinery and power tools. Construction workers are susceptible to hearing loss due to their working environment.
While many baby boomers might not have heeded any advice to keep the volume down, they are now more aware of their hearing loss. With the advancement of technology, hearing aids come in new funky shapes, designs and features. Hearing aids are no longer associated with old people only. Instead, new hearing aids are designed to cater for people of all age groups.
Nowadays, digital technology has replaced analog technology. Digital hearing aids produce better sound quality with feedback cancellation to get rid of unwanted noises. They have programmable settings that can be customized to your hearing needs.
Hearing loss can adversely affect work productivity and relationships if left untreated. People with hearing difficulty should see an audiologist for a hearing test. Hearing aids do not restore your hearing back to normal. However, they can improve your hearing, thereby increasing quality of life.
Prevention is better than cure. Hearing loss can be prevented by taking the necessary precautions. Turn down the volume of music or use ear protection. Avoid long exposure to loud noises at concerts or clubs.
Both Alvint Toh & Alvin Toh are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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