Back to school for little ears
Every autumn, kids head back to school - and that means noise! Schools are filled with the sounds of packed hallways and classrooms, music practices and sporting events.
Noise levels in these settings can be loud enough to permanently damage your children’s hearing. Protect your children’s ears by adding these steps:
Back to school checklist
- Give your children earplugs or earmuffs to carry in their backpacks. Make it easy for your kids to protect their hearing in situations and places that are too loud. Earplugs are small and easy to pack; earmuffs are fun to decorate and easy to use!
- Raise awareness of noise-induced hearing loss. Chat with your children’s teachers about noise-induced hearing loss and the importance of protecting young ears. You might even suggest that teachers use downloadable, online tools (like a sound meter) to monitor noise levels in the classroom.
- Download a sound-meter app on your phone and test activities like their bus ride to school or school sports events. You can play a decibel level guessing game or inspire your children to create a science project about decibel levels and noise pollution.
Is hearing loss common in children?
Does this all seem a bit much? I mean, we all grew up in noisy classrooms, is hearing loss really that common in children? Yes, actually, it is.
According to Irish Health, hearing loss is quite common. About four in every 1,000 children at school entry level in Ireland have unilateral (in one ear) and bilateral (in both ears) mild to profound hearing loss.
That means between 3,000 to 4,500 preschool and school age children in Ireland will have a permanent hearing impairment, with potential consequences for communication, literacy, social and emotional development, and later employability.
Having good hearing is crucial for school-aged children. Children must be able to hear their teachers, join in conversations, and hear cars when crossing the streets. Make sure your children are hearing all that they should be and schedule a paediatric hearing screening every year at this time.
Paediatric audiology specialists
It’s important to ensure that you are bringing your child to a trusted testing centre with top-of-the-range facilities. Not only will this make the experience easy on your little one, but you can also rest assured that you’re getting the most efficient consultation possible.
When choosing a paediatric audiologist for your child, consider the following:
- Do they offer the latest in treating technology and equipment?
- Are they qualified in paediatric audiology?
- Can they offer a child-friendly environment for testing?
Many companies offer paediatric hearing tests and care but Audiology Medical Services are the only audiology company in Ireland to offer state-of-the-art multi-sensory booths for children. Purpose-built for paediatric hearing testing (unlike other centres, who use adult versions), these booths provide the most accurate assessment possible, for children of all ages.
Audiology Medical Services
Audiology Medical Services has dedicated paediatric centres across the country. They provide an expert, comprehensive child-centred and family-friendly diagnostic audiological assessment of infants, children and adolescents.
They are also the only company in Ireland with state-of-the-art multi-sensory sound rooms. These audiometric booths have been specially designed to provide the most accurate assessment possible, enabling trained staff to give the very best consultation for your child.
For more information, or to book an assessment, visit www.audiologymedicalservices.ie, or phone 1800 501 501
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