Keep your children’s ears safe during bonfire night

PARENTS are being encouraged to protect their child’s hearing during the firework season.

The charity Action on Hearing Loss said that many parents do not realise that exposing a child to booming firecrackers and whistling Catherine wheels could be putting their hearing at risk of permanent damage.

Any sound over 85db is viewed as harmful to your hearing and a firework display averages around 120dB, the equivalent of a jet taking off.

To help, Action on Hearing Loss says that children should wear noise-reducing ear defenders; keep 50 to 60 metres away from all sources of loud noise; and limit the duration of exposure to loud noises, as the louder the noise the less time it takes to damage hearing permanently.

Audiologist at Action on Hearing Loss, Vaitheki Maheswaran, said: “Take steps to protect your hearing at loud events by wearing ear plugs.

“We also encourage protecting your children’s hearing as it’s difficult to say when a small child’s hearing is at risk. Their tiny ears can be more sensitive than adult ears to certain highpitched sounds. The best way to protect your child’s hearing is by using ear defenders that are specially designed for children.”

Exposure to loud sounds can cause noiseinduced hearing loss or tinnitus.

Tinnitus is often described as a ‘ringing in your ears’ but some people might also hear buzzing, whistling or whooshing. Although there is no cure for it, there is support available to help people manage it.

Ear defenders are available from Action on Hearing Loss at: www. actiononhearingloss.org.uk/shop/ hearingprotection/

For information and support services available for tinnitus sufferers, call our helpline on 0808 808 9000 or visit www. actiononhearingloss.org.uk/hearinghealth/tinnitus