Earlier this week, we posted about vision tests for our children. Another question many of you have is regarding hearing.
All newborns are administered a newborn hearing screening in the hospital. For children who pass this screening, we don’t follow up with any additional hearing testing.
While some pediatric offices conduct in-office hearing screenings, evidence suggests that these tests are highly inaccurate. In the event that hearing concerns arise, we opt to refer families to an audiologist for more accurate testing.
Most important, when it comes to hearing, is the need to protect it! As we enjoy the noisy summer season, it’s good to know that over-exposure to loud noise can lead to potential permanent hearing damage. Loud noises can be recreational (music, concerts, sports events) and occupational (power tools, lawn mowers, machinery).
Did you know that most headphones get loud enough to damage hearing in just a few short minutes at full volume?
The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania recommends that we follow the following guidelines: 1. It is only safe to listen at 80 percent volume for a maximum of 90 minutes; AND 2. If you can’t hear someone speaking to you (without raising their voice) from an arm’s length away, your music is too loud.
Once hearing is lost, it cannot be restored, so it is important to protect your children’s hearing as best you can.
We recommend the use of filtered earplugs at concerts, sports events and around loud machinery. These earplugs allow individuals to hear sounds - simply at a lower volume.
Remember – hearing is a precious gift, so protect it!
