Childhood is a time for exploration, but early hearing loss can diminish your child’s experience of the world. With noise pollution rising across the country, one in six children enters adolescence with hearing issues. Protecting young people’s hearing is as important as ever, and it doesn’t take much to know how.

How to Prevent Childhood Hearing Loss

1. Limit Volume & Time

Noises louder than 80 decibels (dB) can harm your child’s hearing. These include loud restaurants, lawnmowers, airports, concerts, and media devices played at maximum volume. Follow the 80/90 rule: Limit your child’s media volume to no more than eighty percent of their device’s maximum, and their listening time to ninety minutes per day.

If your child has trouble understanding this, or if they don’t listen through headphones, then follow the Arm’s Length rule. If your child can hear their media from an arm’s length away, that’s as loud as it should get.

2. Cover Their Ears

Your child can encounter loud noises anywhere, from your own home to around the neighborhood and out on the town. When your child might experience noises above 80 dB, cover their ears with earmuffs. These provide comfort for the outer ear and block sound from damaging the inner ear. However, children respond differently to various forms of hearing protection. Talk to a hearing loss specialist to know what will work best for your child.

3. Teach the Importance of Ears

Your child may need help understanding why and how they should protect their hearing. Certain apps can measure sound levels, so you can use these to have your child test different noises and see when they’re too loud. You can also ask your child about their favorite sounds, and then ask what they would do if they could no longer hear them. While this sounds harsh, this method can help young ones understand the importance of protecting their hearing.

You can also teach your child about different forms of hearing protection, such as earplugs and canal caps. Your child can learn which form of protection is most comfortable for them, which will help them use it more when they encounter loud noises.

If you have concerns about your child and hearing loss, Dr. Charlie Palmer at Russellville Hearing Clinic can answer your questions. For over 15 years, Dr. Palmer has helped families all around Pope County, AR, understand the importance of protecting their hearing. He also offers guidance on hearing aids and tinnitus treatment. Call the office at (479) 968-7250 if you have concerns about your child’s hearing, and visit their website to learn more about hearing-related issues.