How to Prevent Hearing Loss in Children - 3 minutes read
Hearing loss means complete or partial failure of hearing. Loud music, noise pollution, some childhood illness, heavy traffic, side effect of any drug taken during mother's pregnancy and many factors work behind hearing loss in children. Kids today are almost addicted to the music world and they spend lot of time hearing music of their choice. It is not the music but the intensity of sound that has left many parents worrying and concerned.
In 1980s the generation was addicted to walkmans. Today children have devices that have longer battery life and capacity to hold hundreds of songs. This prolonged use of music systems and the exposure of ears to loud music for such long hours produce harm to the eardrums of the children. Loud noises or noise pollution is also as much responsible for increasing number of hearing losses in children and adults as is the constant exposure of ears to loud music close to the ears.
Tips for parents to help prevent hearing loss in children
Parents should be aware of the fact that hearing loss in children can be prevented and they can save their children by following certain guidelines.
Avoid or limit the exposure of your child to loud music.
Make your child wear ear plugs when exposed to loud noises. Even the noise created by vacuum cleaners is found to be dangerous for ears.
If your child is very small take proper care that you use hearing protection devices for your child when you expect more than normal noise.
There is medical help available and if a hearing problem is detected at an early stage, it can be treated and cured as well. If you find any kind of hearing problem in your child, you must consult the concerned doctors and get help as soon as possible. Sometimes a speech therapist can turn out quite helpful and your child will be normal in due course of time.
Make your children aware of the warning signs and if they notice any of them, they should immediately inform you so that you take action in time. You can advise your kids to wear hearing protection when visiting any noisy place. Also, make sure you limit noisy activities at home and monitor your listening level as well. Since prevention of hearing problem is so critical, it is advisable for the parents to be alert and careful always with their children and their activities.