If your child loves to stick headphones on to listen to music or watch a show on their iPad or even to hop online and game with their friends, you need to hear what this mum has to say.
In a TikTok video, a Northern Irish mum reveals how using headphones and listening to loud music in her teens lead her to suffering from hearing loss and eventually deafness.
‘If I had known at 15 that I was going to be deaf at 35, I would not have worn headphones,’ the mum, whose name is Monique, starts her video.
‘I made myself deaf’
She goes on to explain further:
‘I have made myself deaf using headphones. I used to have them on at full-whack volume. 15-year-old me was stupid. She did not think of the long-term consequences.’
@_thisismonique_ I look so awkward in this video 🤦♀️ it is a little hard to speak about this because I do gaslight myself a lot. #deafawareness ♬ original sound – Monique 💫
She reveals that she now spends an absolute fortune on hearing aids. And while the mum says she does not mind spending this money as the hearing aids are a huge addition to her life, she also warns that being deaf has caused her to loose out on so much too.
‘It has caused me anxiety. It has caused me to isolate myself in social settings. It has also caused me to just sit on my phone when I am around people and look really rude. It has probably caused me my education too, because I would definitively say that I missed a lot in school.’
The mum goes on to explain how a recent episode triggered her to think about all this again, as she is struggling to adjust her new hearing aids. And this has caused her to feel very lonely and isolated.
‘Be mindful of the volume’
And so she wants to warn others, especially kids and young people, Monique says.
‘I come on here to bring awareness. So please, if you have kids, or if you yourself is a user of headphones, please be mindful of the volume, the usage of them and how often you use them.’
The mum shares that she wants to be open about this side of her life, and how hard it can be to be deaf and to navigate life as a deaf person, so that others can learn about how important it is to protect your hearing.
Headphone use among kids have skyrocketed
Monique’s warning is a real one as experts reveal the use of headphones among children has skyrocketed. From watching kids’ shows on iPads to kids’ having access to music apps like Spotify or even taking part in online learning, the reality is that most kids nowadays are pending more time engaging with screens and audio content, making headphones a valuable accessory for their daily activities.
According to Hidden Hearing, the rise of personal devices such as smartphones, tablets, and portable gaming consoles has significantly contributed to the increase in headphone usage among children while the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in educational and entertainment platforms has created a demand for immersive audio experiences, further fueling the adoption of headphones among young users.
Potential risks of headphones to kids’ hearing
Hidden Hearing warns that because of their developing auditory systems and their tendency to listen at higher volumes, young kids and teens are more vulnerable to hearing damage.
And this is why it is crucial that parents and caregivers monitor and control both the volume when kids are using headphones, and also restrict their use of these devices.
‘Setting volume limits on devices or using headphones with built-in volume limiters can help reduce the risk of overexposure to loud sounds,’ the advice.
How loud is too loud?
According to Hidden Hearing, exposure to loud sounds above 85 decibels (dB) for an extended period can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, which is a permanent condition that affects one’s ability to hear certain frequencies.
Parents need to know that many portable devices and headphones kids are using are capable of reaching volumes well above this threshold, putting them at a higher risk of hearing damage if not properly regulated.
Parents are urged to talk to their children about their headphone usage, and how to use these in a safer manner.
‘Over time, repeated exposure to loud sounds can cause permanent damage to the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, leading to partial or complete hearing loss.’
