In this article Paul Shaw MSc from ‘The Hearing Space’ an audiology clinic based in Leeds answers some
common question regarding children’s hearing protection. learn safety tips, if wireless if the best options
and what features to look for to fully protect your little ones hearing.
What makes a pair of headphones child friendly?
Typically, children like colourful, lightweight, easy to use headphones. Alongside these, safety has to be the number one priority, as well as durability, and comfort. The ability of certain headphones to limit the level of sound they provide is a must, if as parents, we wish to provide safe listening levels for our children.
What features should I look for when buying headphones for my child?
The key factor to look for is a ‘volume-limiting’ feature on a set of headphones. This prevents the child from listening at levels which could lead to damage to their hearing. Typically, this limit is set at 85 dBA which is a level that is considered to be potentially damaging. This doesn’t mean that it is safe to listen at this maximum level for long periods of time. A maximum time of 1 hour is recommended at this level. But, without this feature, a child could potentially listen at levels above 85 dBA which are known to be damaging to hearing.
Wireless headphones typically are safer, given they don’t have a wire that cab be chewed, caught on door
handles etc. The Bluetooth transmission which wireless headphones use, is also typically associated with
‘volume-limiting’ headphones.
Noise-attenuation or noise-cancellation is also another feature that can help in reducing listening levels.
Put simply, if a child is distracted by noise in the environment, they will often turn their headphones up, to
overcome this external noise. Noise-attenuating and noise-cancelling headphones will reduce the external level of sound, which allows the child to listen at a quieter level, thus reducing their overall ‘sound exposure’.
Are there any safety features I should be checking for?
As already discussed, ‘volume-limiting’ is a must to ensure listening levels are not above the level of 85
dBA. The consequences listening at too loud a level is real. Permanent changes to hearing can occur and
also the risk of tinnitus increases with increased sound exposure.
What age are headphone safe for a child to use?
There are many different views on this. Whilst younger children will obviously need more careful
supervision, there is no reason that toddlers can not use headphones, if the above safety measures are in
place. The volume level should be first set by an adult at a comfortable listening level. If a child says they
cannot hear the sound, they may be experiencing a temporary drop in their hearing as a result of ‘glue-ear’. In fact, a child asking for TV or headphones to be turned up, is often one of the signs of a temporary drop in hearing.
Do I choose for wired or wireless headphones?
Wireless headphones provide less risk of entanglement and thus are safer from that perspective.
Furthermore, several studies have shown that the sound output from wireless headphones is easier to
control and limit.
What are your top tips for choosing a pair of child’s headphones?
Think carefully about your reasons for choosing headphones for your child. Is it for occasional use, or do
you expect them to be watching films for long durations. If you do decide to get some headphones,
remember that safety is the key factor. Even with ‘volume-limiting’ devices, it is harder to keep control of
how often the headphones are used. A child could be in their room listening for hours with parents
unaware that headphones are being used. As a guide, limiting headphone use to 1 hour a day seems a
sensible way to manage the risk to your child’s hearing. Occasionally, longer durations would be allowed,
ensuring the volume level is not too loud. Always discuss with your child the need to limit their use and
discuss how the ear works and how delicate the structures are inside the ears. For the latest information on children’s hearing health head to our website blog at The Hearing Space.
*This is a collaborative post