Anglesey parents will be given valuable advice from the council’s Environmental Health officers on how to safeguard their children’s hearing during Noise Action Week 2010, which runs from April 26-30.
Anglesey‘s Principal Environmental Health Officer Huw Thomas, said: “Hearing damage due to loud noise can be prevented but not cured. Only parents can take steps to protect their children’s ears from exposure to loud noise.
“All noise is absorbed in our inner ear by special hearing hair cells. Many people are unaware how precious these cells are because our hearing starts to deteriorate when we are in our 20s due to wear and tear, disease, certain medicines and loud noise. Once these hair cells are damaged, they are lost forever.”
According to Deafness Research UK, one of the largest studies on noise from children’s toys commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry revealed that some toys have noise levels of 85dBA or above when held at about the length of the child’s arm and have the potential to cause damage to hearing if used for extended periods of time.
Here are the Deafness Research UK’s tips for protecting your children’s hearing.
- Remember that children will often hold a toy close to their ears. Before buying a toy, listen to the toy yourself.
- Noisy toys or electronic games should only be played with for an hour a day. This noisy session should be followed by a ten minute quiet time.
- Children’s hearing should be protected when carrying out household noise such as drilling and other use of power tools as well as other loud everyday items.
- If experiencing excessive noisy periods such as practising with a school band, encourage the use of earplugs.
- Download the volume update on your child’s iPod so that the maximum volume can be set on it.
- Turn down the volume on personal music players and hi-fi equipment. MP3 players have a noise limiter – always use it!
- Personal music players should be used at 60% of it’s maximum volume for 60 minutes a day according to the 60:60 rule. So the higher the volume, the shorter time you should listen.
- Take note of how long you spend playing loud video or computer games.
- If your child has a mobile – check its volume it might be too loud.
- Take ear plugs for your children if you are attending loud parties, clubs or concerts.
Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, Vivienne Michael, said: “While the revolution in MP3 and phone technology has given us all the benefit of music on the move, an unwelcome side effect is we are pumping up the volume into our ears and at a far earlier age than ever before. The fear is that many of us are playing music at such high volume that we risk permanent deafness and tinnitus far earlier than would be expected simply as a result of old age.
“One of our key messages for Noise Action Week is not to stop children using MP3 players, but to listen to their favourite sounds safely,” she added.
“Turning the volume down slightly is such a simple thing to do and will enable today’s generation to continue to enjoy their music for years to come.”
You can hear a simulation of hearing loss at: www.hse.gov.uk/noise/demonstration.htm. Advice is also available at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk.
For further information on how to protect your hearing during Noise Action Week, contact the Environmental Health section at the Isle of Anglesey County Council on, 01248 752820.
