Wellness Wednesday: How loud is too loud? What parents should know about noise exposure and kids

Summer fun often comes with sunshine, heat, and noise. But while most parents remember sunscreen and water bottles, experts say noise protection should be part of the summer safety checklist too.

Q: What kinds of summer noise should parents be worried about?

“Especially younger kids with smaller ears, it’s a good idea to wear ear protection when there’s anything loud, like fireworks,” said Dr. Horton.

Even very young children, including babies, can and should wear ear protection.

Q: At what age can kids go without ear protection at fireworks shows?

“A lot of it depends on how loud, how close, how long it’s going to be there,” she said.

“The older you get, it’s still a good idea for all of us if you’re going to be really close. Just like if you’re going to, for adults shooting on a gun range, you want to wear ear protection.”

Q: What other sources of noise should parents be cautious about?

Dr. Horton says one surprising source is baby sound machines.

“It is one of the things we’re seeing a lot is hearing loss in younger adults and more of it. And one of the concerns is not just those sudden loud noises, but also medium loud over a longer period of time,” she explained.

Q: Are white noise machines safe for babies?

Yes, but only if used properly.

“It’s absolutely fine,” said Dr. Horton. “But the recommendation is to put it at its absolute lowest volume and on the other side of the bedroom. You don’t want them right next to the child’s head. Even at a medium level, it’s loud enough over a long period of time to potentially cause hearing damage later in life.”

Q: What’s the rule of thumb for noise levels at summer events?

“If you’re in a really loud environment, so you have to raise your voice to be heard to the person next to you, it’s another good time to think about putting protection on your child’s ears,” said Horton.

Final advice: Sudden loud noises and medium-loud sounds over time can both lead to permanent damage. Fireworks, parties, and even sleep aids should be considered carefully.