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. 2008 May;13(5):377-82.
doi: 10.1093/pch/13.5.377.

Noise-induced hearing loss in children: A 'less than silent' environmental danger

Robert V Harrison  1
Affiliations

Noise-induced hearing loss in children: A 'less than silent' environmental danger

Robert V Harrison. Paediatr Child Health. 2008 May.

Abstract
in English, French

A review of the problems of noise-induced hearing loss in children, especially related to recreational music and the use of personal entertainment devices. The pathophysiology of noise-induced hearing loss and its associated problems (eg, tinnitus) are discussed. The evidence for an increase in noise-induced hearing loss in children and young people is reviewed. Some practical advice (for clinicians, caregivers and children) on hearing loss prevention is provided.

L’auteur analyse les problèmes reliés à la perte auditive due au bruit chez les enfants, notamment en ce qui a trait à la musique récréative et à l’utilisation d’instruments de loisir personnel. Il expose la physiopathologie de la perte auditive due au bruit et des troubles connexes (p. ex., acouphènes). Il étudie les données probantes démontrant une augmentation de la perte auditive due au bruit chez les enfants et les adolescents. Il fournit des conseils pratiques (à l’intention des cliniciens, des personnes qui s’occupent des enfants et des enfants) en vue de prévenir la perte auditive.

Keywords: Acoustic trauma; Hair cell damage; Noise-induced hearing loss; Recreational music.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A broad classification of the types of hearing loss. While noise-induced hearing loss is usually categorized as a cochlear or sensorineural hearing loss, it may also be combined with a conductive loss, and will also impact on central auditory processing
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scanning electron images illustrating normal cochlear hair cells (left) and immediately after noise trauma (right). The lower left diagram shows the normal linkages between stereocilia that are disrupted or broken in noise-induced hearing loss
Figure 3
Figure 3
The stereocilia of normal cochlear hair cells (left) compared with cells after acoustic trauma and in the process of complete degeneration (right). There is no natural regeneration of hair cells in the mammalian cochlea
Figure 4
Figure 4
The consequences of hearing loss should be considered in broader terms than just the clinical measures of hearing threshold loss. dB Decibel; WHO World Health Organization
Figure 5
Figure 5
Sound Sense poster from The Hearing Foundation of Canada, targeting young people with the slogan “Save your hearing for the music”. Reproduced from references and
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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