Protecting Your Child’s Hearing

[Photo: Pixabay/daviddierose]

The world is noisy and from an early age we must teach our children that exposure to loud noises can damage their hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, may increase with age, and can be prevented.

Here are some tips to keep the noise level down in your home:

• Keep television, video games, and music at a low volume. Set the volume to the lowest level that allows you to hear clearly. If someone in the room is not hearing well, turn on closed captions on the television instead of turning up the volume.

• Find ways to reduce noise. Close the door between the area where your children are and any appliances in use, such as the vacuum cleaner, washer and dryer.

• Buy toys that don't make a lot of noise. Choose toys that have a volume control and set the volume to the lowest level. If the toy does not have a volume control, masking or another type of tape to reduce the sound.

• Limit the number of things that make noise at the same time. Try to use only one device that makes a lot of noise at a time, such as a television, hair dryer, vacuum cleaner, or power tools.

• Keep outside sounds out of your house. Close doors and windows so that harmful noises do not enter your home.

• Use furniture and accessories to lower noise indoors. Cushions, curtains, rugs help absorb noise.

• Put red stickers on objects that can reach dangerous sound levels. Remind family members that a red sticker means that they should wear ear protection or limit the time they are around these objects.

Forming healthy hearing habits during an early age will help protect hearing in the future.