« Musicians taken precautions to prevent hearing loss | Main | Lawsuit Against the California School for the Deaf Settled »
September 18, 2007
Children learn how loud sounds now can imperil hearing later
It doesn't take a blaring iPod to put a child at risk of hearing loss later in life. Things as seemingly innocent as using a hair dryer, playing a video game or being near traffic can do damage as well.
That's the focus of "Dangerous Decibels: Defending Young Ears," a statewide education program launched Thursday by the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The commission will provide classes from kindergarten through eighth grade with DVDs and activities explaining the hazards of loud noises.
With many people in their 40s and 50s experiencing hearing loss, it's vital for children to be aware of noise pollution, said Sherri Collins, the commission's executive director.
"The noise levels have increased tremendously; it's really important to teach the kids about hearing loss," Collins said.
Collins tried out the program Thursday with a fifth-grade class at Carden Traditional School in Surprise.
"Did you know that Bill Clinton wears a hearing aid?" Collins, who wears a hearing aid herself, asked the students.
The former president has become a symbol of baby boomers experiencing hearing loss. He has attributed his hearing problems in part to listening to loud music when he was younger and being exposed to helicopter noise and loud campaign rallies later on.
Besides music, children today have to worry about having a PlayStation on at high volume and spending too much time in a video-game arcade, Collins said.
That was enough for Dainen Richmond, 11, who said he will tell his father to turn down the music on his computer.
"Sometimes he'll zone you out," Richmond said. "He can't hear well but doesn't wear a hearing aid, and he blew stuff up as an engineer in the Army."
Adonius Johnson, 9, said, "I learned that loud music can cause serious deaf problems. I'm not going to listen to loud music anymore."
Christy Faux, the school's principal, said she recently saw a girl at the grocery store playing an iPod so loud that Faux could hear it.
"I tapped her on the shoulder and suggested for her to lower the music," Faux said. "The mother close by saw me and then I explained to them about the dangers."
The program also will educate children about sign language so they can communicate with the deaf community.
Daniel Conwell, 10, said he will use that skill to communicate better with an aunt and uncle who are deaf.
"Sometimes I speak with them, but now I will more," Conwell said.
For more information, go to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing's Web site, www.acdhh.org.
http://www.azcentral.com:80/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0902eddecibels0902.html
Posted by 4HL on September 18, 2007 4:17 AM
Send this article to a friend