So, the sound level of the earphones is very important. However, if the impact is too severe, hearing loss can be permanent. If this is only a temporary effect, it may be possible to restore normal hearing again. Therefore, listening to prolonged loud sounds will cause the ear to lose its sensitivity to the vibration. The louder the sound, the greater the vibration. An ear’s ability to hear sounds comes from when sound wave reaches the eardrum and causes a vibration that resonates through the connecting inner part of the ear that has a spiral shape similar to a snail. Therefore, the earphones should be used appropriately. This is because listening to loud sounds so close to the ears for an extended period can harm the ears more than you think. However, persistent us e of earphones can be dangerous, especially if you are not careful about the level and duration of their use. If concerns arise following exposure to any loud sounds, be sure to let your primary care physician know so that hearing can be tested.Earphones are popular gadgets these days because they help one hear clearly and block disturbing noises, while also being convenient to carry around. Hearing protection options include foam earplugs and/or protective earmuffs. If your viewing location is closer, or if one of your family traditions includes setting off your own fireworks, it is recommended that hearing protection be used. This will still allow you, together as a family, to get a good view of the fireworks without having to worry about damage to the organ of hearing. While this is what the WHO recommends, the general (and more conservative) rule of thumb is to sit or stand at least 500 feet away from the fireworks display. It is recommended that infants not be exposed to fireworks given that their small ear canals will result in even louder sound pressure levels reaching their organ of hearing. A “safe” distance for adults is considered to be 50 to 65 feet away from the source of the sound and 165 to 200 feet for children. Fireworks can produce up to 170 dB of sound pressure. For children, the level is reduced to 120 dB. With the Fourth of July upon us, common concerns arise:Īccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should not be exposed to sounds with a peak sound pressure level above 140 dB. As sounds get louder, the amount of time that is considered “safe” to listen to it becomes shorter. For reference, the chart below shows varying sounds and what decibel range they are in. Sounds are measured in decibels (dB), and research shows that sounds at or above 85 dB for extended periods of time require use of hearing protection. Difficulty hearing in noisy environments.Decrease in hearing immediately following exposure to loud noise.Use hearing protection (options include: foam earplugs and/or earmuffs) whenever around excessively loud noise.Move away from areas/devices with loud noise.Ways to protect your/your child’s hearing If you answered YES to any of these questions, then your child may be exposed to sounds that could result in noise-induced hearing loss. Can you hear (and even more concerning, can you understand the words of) your child’s music when they are using earbuds/headphones?.Does your child have difficulty hearing or complain of decreased hearing sensitivity after the loud noise has stopped?.

Does your child complain of ringing in his/her ears even after the noise has stopped?.When your child is wearing headphones, do you find yourself raising your voice so they can hear what you are asking them?.When exposed to loud sounds, these hair cells are damaged and do not grow back. Hair cells in the organ of hearing (fun fact: the organ of hearing is shaped like a snail) are responsible for converting sound to an electrical signal so that the hearing nerve can send the sound to the brain. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is irreversible, but also preventable. An estimated five million children between the ages of 6 and 19 have hearing loss resulting from either a one-time exposure to a loud sound or continuous exposure to loud sounds for long periods of time.

Dangerous decibel levels