Community Chat

[Lindsays Grandma]

Whenever I see Lindsay wearing her headphones or earbuds all I can think of is when she is an adult she will have hearing problems.  The generation of today's children sit for hours blasting music and/or noise from video games directly into their ears and I can't believe they will come away unscathed.  If my feelings are correct Ear Nose and Throat doctors are going to be in huge demand.   Your thoughts?

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I'm no youngster (50's) and there were no earbuds when I was growing up, but after many years of blasting music in my car, teaching group exercise classes (students want it LOUD), and working in a loud outdoor environment (heavy equipment), I have intermittent tinnitus.

Thankfully, most of the time it subsides but it is a really horrible state of being, to have incessant noise in your head.  As you may know, there's no "cure" for it, but one "cause" is damage to the cochlea due to prolonged exposure to loud noises.  Add to it all the "loudness" of everyday life - traffic, construction, fireworks, airplanes, crowds - hearing damage is potentially very real.  Sometimes with hearing loss comes the ringing (tinnitus) as the body attempts to compensate for the loss of audible sound.

I am much more protective of my hearing than I used to be (I'll plug my ears with my fingers, for instance, if need be).

I don't know how you can get that message across to your GD, but I think your awareness is a step in the right direction.  If we'd only known then what we know now!  Have a good day.  (I swear my ears are ringing just thinking about it, and the sound of my old fridge whining is maddening.)

[Ladylaughsalot]

I remember my parents saying the same thing to me because of the earphones I wore all the time.  It was the only way my generation could listen to loud music without our parents yelling at us to "turn it down!"  I'm now in my sixties and I don't have a hearing problem.  I don't think earbuds would be any worse than the headphones of an older generation.  

[Krimpette]

I have long felt that a great career path for a college student would be to become an audiologist.   I can only imagine the hearing issues that will occur in young people down the road.

[MaggieMack]

I ran throughout the 80s and 90s and often wore headphones set at the highest level blasting rock music. I was aware it could cause future problems with my hearing. Did it matter? No, not at the time. I now have mild tinnitus, but it only bothers me in total silence. My dad suffered for years with it, my older brother has it. Neither of them ever wore headphones blasting loud music. Dad used to complain about it all the time, said it was so loud he couldn't understand why I couldn't hear his ears ring. Maybe there's a hereditary component, I don't know.

[Reba055]

It's a real problem. I have to admit, I'm bad about the volume with earbuds too. The only time I wear them is walking on the treadmill (haven't been able to lately) and I blast the music so I can't hear my feet pounding on the treadmill. Lol. It helps me zone out and not realize how much longer I have to walk. 

They are already seeing young people with hearing loss. That's also something hard to monitor as a parent. Education is the key, but just like smoking, when you are young, you think you are invincible!

[Lindsays Grandma]

Thanks to all of you for your comments.  I never wore headphones but I remember when my sister and I would blast our records, anyone remember Stan Kenton?  We were fortunate our house had an enclosed porch so we would close the door and blast away.  My ear problems are not connected to that, I have narrow ear canals which causes wax build up, get them irrigated every six months.  I feel for those who suffer hearing loss and the ringing in the ears which is more than annoying.  Hugs to all.

[chickenbutt]

I definitely think that if they are REALLY blasting the music that it will cause problems at some point.

Of course, I wouldn't give headphones/earbuds to a little kid for all the obvious reasons.

But loud music, even without headphones, has proven to cause problems too so, hopefully, kids are not allowed to play at high enough decibels to cause problems, especially as their bodies are still maturing.

I've also thought extensively about the harm/damage that is being done by kids with smartphones - looking at those tiny screens, thumb-typing on those on-screen keyboards, etc.   I'm convinced that this is going to cause the need for a lot more orthopedic docs and eye surgeons.    There is no way that doing this stuff obsessively is not causing damage!

[sfnative]

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@Lindsays Grandma wrote:

Whenever I see Lindsay wearing her headphones or earbuds all I can think of is when she is an adult she will have hearing problems.  The generation of today's children sit for hours blasting music and/or noise from video games directly into their ears and I can't believe they will come away unscathed.  If my feelings are correct Ear Nose and Throat doctors are going to be in huge demand.   Your thoughts?

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@Lindsays Grandma

Hi Lindsay's Grandma,

Prior to retiring a little over 2 years ago, part of my job description was to assist ENT Researchers.    Most of this was relevant to the development of cochlear implants used to greatly enhance severe hearing loss sustained by Navy personnel having worked on the decks of air craft carriers, engine rooms and the like.

What your granddaughter needs to understand is that damage to the extremely tiny nerve endings in the inner ears, sometimes called "hairs," by loud noises, some of which are percussive, is absolutely permanent.  It is permanent because these tiny nerve ending hairs are part of the Central Nervous System (CNS).  Injury to any part of the CNS is, to repeat, permanent.

Now, don't get all over me, but for educational purposes I'd like to draw your attention to a well known radio talk show host.  If you've seen clips of him on TV and have noticed a round device implanted into his skull behind and a bit up from the rear of his left ear, you're looking at a cochlear implant.  The surgery to implant this device is very exacting and requires unbelievably sophisticated electronic equipment.

I have a feeling that in years to come all of the device and electronic monitoring equipment manufacturers are going to be making big bucks due to any use of ear buds and  ear phones.  Honestly, it's just at the end of a very short tunnel.  (Had many, many conversations with my colleagues regarding this issue.)

[Lindsays Grandma]

sfnative...I appreciate your comments more than I can say.  I will sit with Lindsay while letting her read what you wrote.   Will she pay attention?  I doubt it.  Will my daughter restrict the use of the earphones and buds?  I doubt that too but one can try.  Lindsay is a twelve year old who is way too smart for her own good and has an answer for everything, a little know it all whom I am afraid is going to have to learn the hard way.  But than again when I was her age did I think my parents knew everything?  No way.  Thanks again, take care.