3 Ways to Prevent Earbuds and Headphones From Damaging Your Child’s Hearing This School Year

ASHA Provides Recommendations as Pandemic Shifts Many Schools to All-Virtual Mode

With virtual schooling now in session throughout the country, many students will be wearing earbuds or headphones for half a day or longer, 5 days a week, during classroom time alone. This will be on top of regular leisure activities involving the tech accessories, such as watching shows, listening to music, and gaming. And all that usage can damage kids’ hearing if they don’t take steps to protect themselves, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Repeatedly listening to devices at volumes that are too loud for too long and too often can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL is preventable, but once it occurs, it is irreversible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.1 billion young people are at risk for NIHL. The agency recommends that children spend no more than 40 hours listening to a personal audio device per week, at levels no higher than 75 decibels, to prevent hearing damage.

These simple steps will help protect your child’s hearing:

1. Turn the Volume Down (Even on “Volume-Limiting” Products): Some headphones claim to have maximum noise output levels that won’t damage hearing. But studies have shown that these claims aren’t always reliable. The best bet is to keep the volume at half level.
2. Use Noise-Canceling Earbuds/Headphones: Noise-canceling features can help children hear better — and reduce the need to crank the volume — by drowning out outside noise, whether that comes from other family members in the house, noisy appliances (e.g., washing machines, dishwashers), or outdoor noise (e.g., lawnmowers, traffic, barking dogs).
3. Take Regular Listening Breaks: Strive for hourly breaks, when possible — even if just for a few minutes between classes. The potential for hearing damage hinges on how long you listen as much as how loud you listen.

If your child seems to have trouble hearing or is constantly turning up the volume on their devices or television, contact a certified audiologist for a hearing evaluation. Learn more at www.asha.org/public.