Healty Habits: Protecting Hearing

I recently had a chance to interview Ronald A. Hoffman, MD, Medical Director at The Ear Institute at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary about healthy hearing. 1) What is the biggest thing people overlook when it comes to hearing health? The most important fact for parents to know is that hearing can be accurately assessed in children of any age, from birth on. If a parent suspects hearing loss, have the hearing tested by a licensed audiologist. 2) How can parents help their kids (of all ages) protect their hearing? The best help is to protect your children against loud noise exposure. Particularly as they enter their teens and come under peer pressure for constant exposure to loud music. 3) How can parents make sure they're protecting their own hearing? If a parent is exposed to loud sound or music they will experience a sense of ear fullness or a ringing sound in the ear. This is called a transient threshold shift and if a hearing test were done at that very moment, there would be a measurable loss. Transient threshold shifts usually last for a few hours after loud exposure, then resolve. With repeated exposure, however, this transient threshold shift can become permanent, i.e. a hearing loss. 4) What are some early signs of hearing loss that parents can watch for in kids? There are certain benchmarks that are important: - Between birth and three months baby should: react to loud sound with a startle, turn head towards you when you speak, and be awakened by loud voices and noises. - Between four and six months baby should: enjoy toys that make a sound and begin to repeat sounds such as ooh and aah and ba-ba. - Between six and twelve months baby should: respond to his or her name, respond appropriately to names of common things, start to respond to simple requests, and start using a few simple words. - Between one and two years of age baby should: use words, eventually in two or three word sentences, point to some body parts, understand simple questions, and follow two-step commands. For more information on protecting hearing, visit the website ILikeMyHearing.com.