About Your Child medical contributor
Protect Your Child’s
Ears While Having
Fun This Summer
T
Susan M. Wentzel,
M.Ed, CCC-A
McLeod ENT Associates
here are many noisy recreational activities that are
part of summer fun: loud outdoor concerts, lawn
mowers, power tools, target shooting, sporting
events and fireworks to name a few. Unfortunately, many
of these activities can potentially damage our hearing. In
fact, a single bang of a firecracker at close range, which
can be up to 125 decibels, can cause permanent hearing
loss making it forever more difficult to hear the quieter
sounds of summer like the buzzing of a bee.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
1.1 billion teenagers and young adults, ages 12 to 35, are
at risk of acquiring hearing loss due to exposure damaging
levels of sound such as the improper use of personal
audio devices. Not only can exposure to high noise level
destroy our ability to hear, it can also cause a condition
called tinnitus, or “ringing” in the ear.
Some suggestions that will allow your child to engage
in these activities and conserve their hearing include:
leave the fireworks to the professionals; if a loud noise
takes your child by surprise, tell them to get away from
it as quickly as possible, and plug their ears with your
fingers; and turn the volume down or use ear plugs near
loud music.
Both disposable and custom made noise plugs
are available. You can find disposable earplugs at the
drugstore which are usually made of foam or silicone.
A better option is to have custom ear protection made
to ensure the best fit. These can be customized for a
variety of applications, from car racing, hunting, target
shooting or clays to listening or playing music. When
earplugs fit properly, they are very effective in blocking
out dangerously loud sounds.
Another practical way to keep your child’s ears healthy
this summer is to wear swim plugs when it is necessary
to keep water out of the ears. This precaution may be to
avoid an ear infection while in dirty or cold water, to keep
water out of the ear due to having pressure equalization
tubes (PE) placed in the eardrum, for those at risk of ear
infections, or those with a perforation in the eardrum.
Water sport enthusiasts who spend long hours in the
water, such as wind surfers and sailors, often wear swim
plugs to help keep their ears safe.
There are two kinds of swim plugs available: custom
fit plugs and a one size fits all. The one size style of
swim plugs is available from drugstores and are made of
silicone or putty. They are quick and easy to replace, but
do not provide a custom fit. The custom swim plugs will
need to be ordered through an audiologist. This type is
higher quality and value, so while they cost more than
disposable plugs, they will last longer as well. Custom
swim plugs are also a little more difficult to insert in the
ear than disposable ones, so your child may need some
assistance to ensure they are used used properly. Custom
swim plugs are hypoallergenic, come in a variety of
colors, and they float.
If you or your child are in need of some custom
earplugs for whatever reason - swimming, paddle
boarding, target shooting, even flying or for better sleep
- we can fit anyone with the best one to suit their needs.
This way, you can keep your child’s ears healthy, and
they can enjoy activities during the summer and all year
around.
Susan M. Wentzel, M.Ed., CCC-A, is Director of Audiology for McLeod ENT Associates of Florence.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (843) 413-2525.
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AUGUST 2017
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