Hearing loss, tinnitus, children, adolescents
Every day, children's ears are bombarded with sounds – from the classroom, recess, the gym and, not least, from the headphones that are often stuck to their ears. But while sound can be both fun and educational, it can also be harmful. Several experts are now warning of an increase in the number of children and adolescents with tinnitus – a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears that won't go away.
There is a lot of research that sheds light on the reasons why children and young people develop tinnitus. Several Danish and international studies have investigated both the prevalence, risk factors and the psychological consequences.
Noise and loud sounds: The most well-documented cause of tinnitus in children and adolescents is exposure to loud sounds, especially through music players with headphones, computer games, and noise in institutions and schools. Studies show that up to 67% of 11-16 year olds have experienced tinnitus in some form, often after listening to loud music or being exposed to other noise .
Noise damage: Up to 40% of all cases of tinnitus in young people can be related to noise damage. Technological advances make it possible to listen to music loudly and for long periods of time, which increases the risk of both tinnitus and hearing loss. Helsefonden .
Stress and psychological factors: Research also suggests that stress and psychological strain can trigger or worsen tinnitus in children and adolescents. Insomnia, anxiety and attention problems are frequently associated with tinnitus, and stress can both worsen existing tinnitus and in some cases trigger it. DR
Other causes: Tinnitus can also occur in connection with ear infections, earwax, diseases of the ear or as a result of hearing loss, but these causes occupy less space in research on children and adolescents compared to noise and stress .
Children with tinnitus may experience difficulty concentrating, fatigue during the school day, and social withdrawal, especially if they are particularly bothered by sounds in their surroundings. DR
Many children develop their own strategies to deal with tinnitus, but often without professional help, as they rarely spontaneously complain about the symptoms themselves .
Longitudinal studies have been initiated to follow the hearing and tinnitus of children and adolescents over time to shed light on how tinnitus develops and what long-term consequences it may have .
There is still a lack of knowledge about how to best prevent and treat tinnitus in children and adolescents, as most current interventions have been developed for adults .
Long-term tinnitus in children and adolescents can have major consequences – not just for hearing, but for the entire quality of life:
Persistent concentration and learning difficulties
Sleep problems
Increased risk of stress, anxiety and depression
Social isolation and lower self-esteem
Risk of developing permanent hearing loss and auditory hypersensitivity
These serious consequences clearly show how important prevention is – and it starts with paying attention to noise in children's everyday lives.
Source: The Danish Hearing Association, "Sound on Life" (2021)
At ÅBN, we work every day to improve indoor climate and sound conditions – also for the youngest. That's why we recommend that you as parents pay attention to these three good habits:
With ÅBN's product, SKYEN, our dashboard is included, which easily scales your indoor climate and thus your sound level in 7 groups from A (best) to G (bad) as you know it from, for example, the `energy label'. ÅBN's scaling of the sound level is as follows:
| Scale | Limit | Description |
| A | ≤ 40 dB(A) | Perfect |
| B | 41-50 dB(A) | Optimal |
| C | 51-60 dB(A) | Excellent |
| D | 61-70 dB(A) | Less good |
| E | 71-80 dB(A) | Not optimal |
| F | 81-90 dB(A) | Bad |
| G | > 90 dB(A) | Very bad |
Note: This is ÅBN's official noise advice based on the latest research in the field. For legislation in the field, please contact the nearest authority, including the Danish Working Environment Authority and the building regulations.
It's not just about volume, but about the total amount of sound your child is exposed to:
Pay particular attention to warning signs such as hissing or ringing in the ears after exposure to sound, decreased hearing, or the feeling of "wax in the ears".
ÅBN's sensor, SKYEN , also measures noise, among six parameters. With a short and simple installation, you can monitor the sound level - and get concrete feedback in dB(A), which reflects the sound field perceived by the human ear.
Read more about SKYEN and buy it here: https://aabn.io/products/skyen
At ÅBN, we make it easy to improve the indoor climate in primary schools. That's why we've tailored a school package where you can save DKK 8,000 on an intro package for your premises - everything (even installation) included!
Read and buy the campaign package here: https://aabn.io/products/skole-indeklima-testpakke
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