How to protect your child's hearing (and the growing problem of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss)

Researchers estimate that one in eight children and one in five adults suffers from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NlHL is almost always preventable, which makes that statistic even more sobering.

An 8 hour day of continual exposure to sounds over 85 decibels or dB (a measure of sound) can cause NlHL. Even just a single exposure to a very loud sound of 120dB or more may result in immediate hearing damage! Unfortunately, we live in an increasingly noisy world. Traffic, loud toys, household appliances... all these can combine to create an unfriendly environment for young (and older) ears.

How loud is 85 decibles?
According to the City College of New York website, here are the dB ranges of many every day items:

- vacuum cleaner: 60-85 dB
- hair dryer: 60-95 dB
- emergency vehicle siren: 120 dB
- football game stands: 117 dB
- balloon pop 157 dB
- firecracker from 3 feet away 162 dB

Take steps now to help protect you and your child's hearing.

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have created the following Decibel Exposure Time Guidelines: Combinations of noise exposure and durations which no one should equal or exceed

Continuous dB   Permissible Exposure Time
85 dB                 8 hours
88 dB                 4 hours
91 dB                 2 hours
94 dB                 1 hour
97 dB                 30 minutes
100 dB                15 minutes
103 dB                7 minutes 30 seconds
106 dB                3 minutes 45 seconds
109 dB                1 minute 53 seconds
112 dB                56 seconds
115 dB                28 seconds

Although awareness of decibel levels can help you protect hearing, you can also avoid noises that are "too loud" and "too close" and that last "too long." You can tell the noise is too loud when:

• You have to raise your voice to understood by someone standing close by.
• The noise hurts your ears.
• You develop a buzzing or ringing sound in your ears, even temporarily.
• You don't hear as well as you normally do until several hours after you get away from the noise.

You can help create a quieter environment at home with these tips from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the Nationallnstitutes of Health.

• Set your television, video games, and music to the lowest volume at which they can be heard clearly. (Establish acceptable volume levels for your children's devices - mark the device with tape or a marker if possible.)



• Buy quiet toys. If you buy electronic toys, choose those with volume controls, and use only the lowest volume setting.



• When buying certain appliances, such as a fan, range hood or dishwasher, ask about its noise rating.



• Close windows and doors against potentially harmful sounds, such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, power tools and sirens.



• Avoid firecrackers



• Avoid sirens, construction zones, freeways or other loud areas by walking away or skirting the area



• Always have earplugs handy if you plan to attend loud events

Curious about other tips for childrens' health? Visit www.BoiseHealth.com to learn about the health issues associated with spending too much time in front of the tv or computer as well as health hazards of sugary drinks.