Headphone danger: Experts warn of damage to children's ears

Headphone danger: Experts warn of damage to children's ears

In Germany, around 14 million headphones are sold every year, mostly to teenagers and young adults. A new study suggests that more and more children will be equipped with headphones in the future. Experts warn that using headphones not only impairs hearing, but also fails to learn the ability to block out background noise.

Researchers at the CS Mott Children's Hospital in Michigan, USA, surveyed almost 1,200 pairs of parents with at least one child between the ages of five and twelve. The results show that on average children use headphones for around two to three hours a day. It is mainly used at home, at school, in the car and as a sleep aid in bed. A majority of parents agree to their child using headphones regularly, especially when listening to music, audio books and videos, without adjusting the volume.

About 40 percent of parents who let their children use headphones for two hours or less a day believe it is appropriate, while 26 percent are concerned about their children's possible hearing damage. Some parents are concerned but take little action to minimize the risk. Finding the right balance between using headphones and protecting children's hearing is challenging. It is recommended to control the volume, carry out regular hearing tests and take breaks to protect your hearing.