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Do Headphones Cause Hearing Loss?
More than a million Canadians suffer from hearing loss. The Hearing Foundation of Canada says that the number may be much higher as many cases are not reported.
Experts believe that headphones are one of the causes, especially among teens. So if you have been worried about your children constantly using headphones, you have reason to be concerned. Research shows that hearing loss among teens is 30% higher than a decade ago and headphones could be the main reason for this figure. The only way to determine if your teenagers have a problem is to take them to a hearing loss clinic in Calgary.
Why Do You Need to Take Your Kids to a Hearing Loss Clinic?
Loud volumes and prolonged use of headphones both contribute to hearing loss which is a lifelong condition. While this affects both adults and children, it has a bigger impact on the lives of your kids. In an American Osteopathic Foundation report, Dr. Foy explains that, ’93Even a mild hearing loss due to excessive noise could lead to developmental delays in speech and language”.
Getting a hearing test done will immediately determine if they have a problem and provide solutions for their hearing loss. Not being able to hear impacts your child’s safety, development and quality of life.
A hearing loss clinic not only offers audiological testing but can also provide you with custom-fit hearing aids. Today’s listening devices are stylish and sophisticated, and many are so small that they won’t even be noticed.
How to Protect Your Kids from Hearing Loss
Did you know that MP3 players are able to produce sound levels equivalent to that of a rock concert? Doctors say that at 120 decibels (sound levels these devices can produce), hearing loss can occur in little over an hour.
Here are some precautions you can take to prevent hearing loss when using headphones:
Use headphones that go over the ears rather than ear buds that go inside your ears
Turn down the volume. If you can’t hear what’s going on around you, then it’s too high
Moderation is the key. Avoid using headphones for prolonged periods; keep it under an hour.
When to Get a Hearing Test Done?
If you or your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule testing at a hearing clinic in Calgary as soon as possible:
A ringing, hissing, roaring or buzzing sound in the ears
Difficulty understanding speech in noisy conditions
Muffled sounds
Feeling that your ear is plugged
Listening to the TV or radio at higher than usual volumes
Hearing loss is permanent but when properly managed with the right hearing aids and care, you can lead a normal, happy and fulfilled life.
If you or your children are experiencing hearing loss, contact Soundwave Hearing Care today for a hearing test in Calgary. Our hearing loss clinic offers comprehensive services to improve your hearing health. Contact us online or visit one of our convenient locations.
All the blogs are reviewed and edited by our clinic's lead audiologist, Dr. Anne Wooliams. Dr. Woolliams is an experienced audiologist specialized in pediatric audiology, auditory processing, and tinnitus/sound sensitivity therapy. She is dedicated to providing top-notch hearing care and helping her clients improve their language and communication abilities. Dr. Woolliams' expertise in literature and linguistics, combined with her passion for helping people improve their language and communication, make her an incredibly valuable asset in the field of audiology. Learn more about Dr. Woolliams.