January 20, 2017.
Children fall asleep too often on headphones. A reflex which, if it proves effective in calming toddlers, can have dramatic consequences on their hearing.
One in 10 babies under two fall asleep with headphones on
More and more parents are using headphones or earphones to put their child to sleep. This observation, established during a study carried out in 2015 by the Ipsos institute, worries hearing experts who meet for the Semaine du son, which takes place from January 23 to 29 in Paris.
According to the figures revealed by this study, around one in 10 babies under 2 years old would regularly fall asleep using these devices, while this proportion would increase to 3 in 10 children under 6 years old.
Parents are encouraged to take care of their children’s hearing
The dangers of this bad habit on children’s hearing are numerous and experts point to the poor positioning of earphones and headphones, which can have serious consequences for the hearing of the little ones. Another major problem: the volume of music that children listen to, often too high. The survey by the Ipsos institute also reveals that in many cases, adults manage to hear what the child is listening to through their headphones.
On the occasion of this event dedicated to sound, hearing experts remind the parents concerned that children’s hearing is a driving force in their development and that this sense participates in particular in the learning of language and, later, in their academic success. To monitor the proper functioning of the hearing system of children, a regular appointment with an ENT is recommended.
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