Can loud noises from firecrackers affect my baby's hearing?
How to protect my kid's ears during loud noisy celebrations like Diwali?
As one of the grand festivals of India 'Diwali' is knocking the doors, we also get closer to noisy and pollution causing fireworks without which our Diwali seems to be incomplete. Besides being the reason of our excitement and joy of celebrating Diwali firecrackers are also the cause of air pollution and noise pollution.
Loud noise produced by fire crackers affect adversely to our overall health and especially our ears. High decibel sounds of firecrackers trigger stress, hypertension, insomnia and hearing loss.
Babies and kids are more affected by noise pollution from firecrackers. If you are also worried about your babies, read on further to know how you can protect your baby's ears during Diwali celebrations.
How can firecrackers be a reason for ear damage in babies and kids?The sound is measured in decibels (db). We converse at 60 decibels normally. The sounds that are ranging above 85 decibels are hazardous to our ears. Generally sounds of or above 120 decibels result in painful ears.
Firecrackers like bombs and whistling rockets produce sounds in the range of 150 to 175 decibels. Hence they are very potential to cause hearing loss. They cause damage to eardrums and the tiny hairs in inner ear that are responsible for generating nerve impulses and sound production.
Babies are even more prone and much adversely affected by the noise caused by firecrackers. The noise pollution of firecrackers may result in temporary or permanent hearing loss in babies.
You can also read the article on cleaning baby's ears.
Symptoms of damage to ears by fire crackers or noise pollution:Mostly young babies only cry if the noise is hurting as they are unable to say or describe their symptoms to you.
Noise pollution may result in following ear damaging symptoms in babies and even you. They are as mentioned below.
- Tinnitus - buzzing, crackling sound in ears
- Feeling of ear fullness or ear pressure
- Temporary hearing loss
- Babies and smaller kids may cry and pull or scratch their ear if they are feeling any of the above said symptoms
Except these alarming signs of ear damage, one may be affected by other health problems like anxiety, stress, and headache also.
How to prevent fireworks' noise induced hearing damage in your babies?
A sudden loud noise may cause a sharp pain in ears and damage eardrum resulting in noise induced deafness. Thus it is required to protect babies from the noise pollution during Diwali celebration, as they are more vulnerable to its harmful effects.
You can prevent hearing damage or loss in kids by following these baby ear sound protection guidelines.
#1. Avoid sound producing fireworksDiwali is festival of lights and not sound. So spread light by celebrating Diwali with lanterns, diya and electric lights.
#2. Stay Indoors with doors closedIf you have a young baby, it is better to stay inside with windows and doors closed, which ensure your child's ear safety.
And, if you cannot stay away from festive celebration and want your baby to see the fun, following points on baby ear protection from noise can come to your help.
#3.Cover the ear
Protect your baby's ears by cotton ear balls or earmuffs or baby earplugs. Take care to roll the cotton earplugs tightly so that the cotton does not get stuck in baby's ears. Earplugs can reduce the frequency of sound, although cannot block the noise completely if it is very loud.
Noise reducing headphones for kids are also available in market.
#4. Maintain safe distance
Keep safe distance of at least few meters from the fire crackers bursting noise to keep your baby in safe zone.
#5. Enjoy aerial or long distance fireworks
Enjoy aerial fireworks with your baby, as there is lesser risk of hearing damage due to increased distance from the bursting fireworks.
Celebrate Diwali with the fireworks of low frequency sounds like spinning fireworks, sparklers, fountains etc.
#7.Take the baby far from noiseIf you notice your baby afraid, restless or crying during celebrations please take him away from all those bang noise.You can also read the 6 ways to ensure safe Diwali for children.
If you follow these precautions and tips, I am sure you can enjoy Diwali celebrations even with your kids and young babies without any fear of hearing loss or damage to them. You can refer to the 10 ways to engage toddlers during Diwali.
Have a happy, safe and sparkling Diwali with your bundle of joy.
