Protection For Young Ears

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/health/02baby.html

After last month's Superbowl, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees shared a victory moment with his 1-year-old son, holding him up above his head. The boy was wearing what looked like the headphones worn by his father's coaches, but they were actually earmuffs meant to protect his hearing from the stadium's roar.

Specialists say that hearing loss from loud noises is cumulative and irreversible. "If a child attends only one loud sporting event, it isn't a big deal. But for those kids who will be going to football games throughout their lives, as Drew Brees' kids will, it's a very big deal. A young, tender ear may not be able to withstand damage."

More than 15 minutes of exposure to 100 decibels is unsafe according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The noise in a football stadium can reach 100 to 130 decibels. The sound pressure entering a young child's ear is greater than it would be for an older child or adult because their ear canal is much smaller. The shorter length of the ear canal increases dangerous noise levels in the higher frequencies, which are crucial to language development.

Earplugs are not a good way to protect a baby's hearing. They are too big for tiny ear canals and too easy to put into the mouth, posing a choking hazard. Protective headgear is the best option for small children. This includes lightweight foam-filled ear cups, weighing less than half a pound and cost about $20 - $30. Most are not meant for infants, but Baby Banz sells earmuffs for babies 6 months and older.