Hearing Loss Becomes An Epidemic Amongst Children
Written by Tom Doerr on May 20th, 2010
Experts have noted that hearing loss is becoming more common in children; they predict these children will have the hearing capacity of a 60 year old by the age of 30. This spate is not down to diseases or a virus but the rising exposure to high volumes of noise.
Young children often listen to their music or play video games with the volume at the maximum level; this damages the ears, often beyond repair. Research also suggests that children are being taken by their parents to sporting or music events which expose them to volumes only suitable for more mature ears. Professor of preventive medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Dr Martin, said, “If a sound reaches 85 decibels and over an extended period, it can permanently damage hearing. The safe level for an iPod is 80 per cent on the volume slider. If you listen to music at that level, you can safely listen for 90 minutes a day.”
The safe volume of music in earphones can be safely measure with a simple test, if you stand at arms reach from someone and you cannot hear their voice over the music, it is too loud. Sound levels can physically damage your ears but also can lead to an affliction called Tinnitus. Tinnitus is a condition which causes a permanent ringing noise in the ear and can prevent many difficulties to its sufferers. It can be treated but in most cases cannot be cured and victims are forced to suffer an unbearable ringing noise in their ear for the rest of their life.
In decibels, a normal conversation would generate 60dB, a loud concert or busy construction site may go as loud as 120dB and a jet engine or pneumatic drill can generate 150dB. Noises this loud are instantly painful and exposure to noises above 150dB will cause instant permanent damage. Even at a relatively low level, constant noise can cause high blood pressure, stress, anxiety and insomnia.
In America and Europe, 12% of children under the age of 19 have a degree of hearing loss exclusively attributed to exposure to loud noise. There are laws against noise levels in a workplace but nothing to control individuals exposing themselves to loud music.
Many people have suffered hearing damage as a result of being exposed to high volumes against their will. Most of these people are entitled to hearing loss compensation or a claim of some sort.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 7:09 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Tags: claim, cochlea, compensation, deaf, deafness, decibels, Health, hearing loss, sign language, tinnitus
1 Comment at "Hearing Loss Becomes An Epidemic Amongst Children"
Great points you pointed out here. Today, lifestyle the children are adapting is damaging their health and especially the hearing ability.
Parents should make sure that their children are not using the things at very high volume as that will have dangerous effects on hearing of the whole family.
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