See What Our Audiologist Shared With Popular Outlet Bored Panda
Photos of babies at this year’s exciting World Cup matches might be inspiring key questions for parents and caregivers: How loud is too loud for young ears, and what’s the best way to protect children’s hearing?
In a recent story on the topic, popular digital magazine Bored Panda interviewed experts including our own Brian J. Fligor, Ph.D., PASC, audiologist-in-chief and president of Tobias & Battite Hearing Wellness, who shared insights on protecting the littlest ears during loud events.
As Dr. Fligor explained in the article, hearing plays a vital role in connection, communication, safety, enjoyment, and language development. But loud sound can damage hearing when it’s intense enough and lasts long enough. Think about noisy environments like:
- Sporting events
- Concerts
- Fireworks
For young ones, hearing protection is especially important. As the article notes, babies — with their smaller ear canals — are more vulnerable to potential hearing damage from loud noise. Sounds above 75–85 decibels (dB; sporting events can reach 110 dB) call for hearing protection.
“If the sound is loud enough that you need to shout to be understood by someone next to you,” shared Dr. Fligor, “everyone (including infants) needs hearing protection.”
The article also highlights why earmuffs are often a better option than earplugs for young ones, especially those under age 6. Properly fitting protection can help reduce sound exposure in noisy settings and can also teach children early that hearing is something worth safeguarding.
Whenever possible, avoiding extremely loud environments is the safest choice for babies. When that’s not realistic, parents and caregivers can take other practical steps, including using well-fitting hearing protection, limiting time in loud areas, and modeling healthy listening habits.
Tobias & Battite Hearing Wellness offers custom hearing protection designed for concerts, sporting events, music, work, recreation, and other noisy settings. Custom-molded options can provide a secure, comfortable fit while reducing sound to a safer level, helping make hearing protection a smart step for every generation.