Can Portable Devices Cause Hearing Loss?

Did your charge put an iPod or MP3 Player on their wish list this year? While the musical devices serve as great entertainment pieces, could they be damaging to ear health, especially that of a child? According to Health Daily News, one in six teens has some degree of preventable hearing loss, but few parents warn their kids to turn down their iPods or avoid other sources of excessive noise.

Portable devices have been around for decades but, with the advancement of technology, and prolific use, the risk of hearing loss has risen. Some of the main concerns include earbud use and extended head phone use. CD and Cassette Players, some of the first portable music devices, came equipped with headphones, allowing users to avoid outside distractions and listen to music without distracting others around them, but new devices come with ear buds, a more isolated form of listening. Earbuds go directly into the ear, close enough to damage the canal if music is played too loud. Another concern is the advancement in portable storage. Old devices allowed for users to listen for maybe an hour at a time. MP3 Players and iPods can hold thousands of songs and are light to carry, extending the time people listen to their devices.

            The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association mandates that sounds over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss and damage. Newer MP3 Players and iPods can reach up to 106 decibels. The younger the listener, the more damage there is to be done. Hearing loss does not happen instantaneously, it happens over time. A long term repercussion could include the inability to distinguish the letters s, h, and f, which could make hearing difficult.

            If kids ask for one of these devices, there are a few things parents and caregivers can do to lower the risks. Substituting earbuds for headphones will allow them to listen to music but leave a safer barrier between the music and ear canal. Also, set musical limits. All musical devices enable users to set volume controls. Browse the settings menu and set the volume lower than 85 decibels. Finally, limit the time spent on these devices. The younger the user, the less time they should spend. As younger consumers get older and want to listen to music more often, set time intervals. Remember, hearing loss doesn’t happen instantaneously, it happens over time.

Do Children Play Anymore?

Childhood is all about learning, growing, experiencing, and playing. The days should be made for kickball games, races, and making snowmen with neighborhood pals. With advancements in technology, days spent outside have begun to fade away and replaced by the days of game systems, iPads, and solo play. While parents and caregivers have probably noticed the change from imaginary to virtual friends, medical experts have now started to research the effects.

            New medical research shows that, in a one-mile footrace, a kid today would finish a minute and a half behind a typical child from 1975. This could correlate to the high obesity rate of current times as compared to that of four decades ago, but what else is to blame? Children need to be exposed to a more physical lifestyle. While everyone deserves to enjoy the positives of technology, limits need to be set.

            It’s now time for caregivers and parents to go beyond curtailing T.V. watching. One way to transition from technology play to outdoor play is to partake in physical activity, join in! Here are a few ideas to bring playtime back in a healthy way:

• Ready, get set, go! Challenge your charge to a race. The first one to the corner gets to choose dinner from a healthy menu of choices. 
•  Goal! Set up the soccer net in the backyard and invite the neighborhood kids over for a game. Create a tournament for ongoing play. 
•  Push the pedal! Go for a bike ride before the sun goes down.
• Tag, you’re it! Head out to the yard for a game of tag. The more the merrier.
• Shake it! Zumba is a dance craze that also serves as an intense cardio workout.

These are just a few suggestions that allow for kids to get up, get out, and have fun. They also allow for parents and caregivers to get involved. Let’s start playing again!