Life as I Know It; Family; Lifestyle; and Healthy Living!
Turn the Music down
Published on October 12, 2006 By foreverserenity In Misc
I found out earlier this week that one of my nephews (on my hubby’s side), who is 11 years old is almost deaf. He was having trouble hearing, couldn’t hear when his mom talked to him, and it was just chalked down to he’s being a kid and just not listening and doing the kid thing of doing things in his own time.

Well, on a recent school nurse/doctor exam, you know the type they do in public school to test the kids hearing and sight, they discovered that he was practically deaf. Upon follow up with a specialist, he is likely to be fully deaf by the time he reaches 13, if not sooner. The poor kid.

His mom says that he always, always listens to his music very loudly, especially when he uses his headphones. No amount of coaxing would get him to turn the music down. He has been doing this since he was 6 years old, so we’re talking about five years of this bad habit and it has finally caught up with him.

I know my kids do the same thing but I always put my foot down and get on their case until they do as I asked. I tell them if I can hear it when you’re using a headphone, then it’s too loud. Thank heavens I didn’t throw in the towel on that one. (and by no means am I suggesting that his mom did, it’s just so awful this has happened to him)

Just a moment a go a youth walked in and handed me a delivery, he had his headphones on and yep, I could hear his music blasting away. Even after he left me, I could hear it from where I was and he was more than a couple of feet away from me. That’s simply way to loud.

I enjoy listening to my music and there are times I do turn up the volume, it somehow seems to enhance that beat and the enjoyment of the song. I know it’s a bad habit, and although I don’t use headphones when listening to my music, it’s a habit I will have to be more conscious of from now on.

Comments
on Oct 12, 2006
I have bad ears. Had about 6 sets of those "pe tubes" or whatever they are called. Ruptured my left eardrum 5 times and my right eardrum about 7 times. So my hearing is not the best to begin with due to all of the scar tissue that used to be my eardrum.

I JAM music when I listen to it. Why? Because I cannot hear it if I don't. I don't really think headphones and loud music are that bad for you that they can make you go deaf.

I talked to my ear nose and throat doctor many times about it (because I like to shoot guns too) and even he said not to worry about it. You have a better chance hurting your ears by swimming then you do going to a concert or shooting guns or listening to loud music ect.
on Oct 12, 2006
A lot of people listen to headphones far too loudly, but perhaps this child played it loud because of hearing loss instead of the other way around?
on Oct 12, 2006
I have bad ears. Had about 6 sets of those "pe tubes" or whatever they are called. Ruptured my left eardrum 5 times and my right eardrum about 7 times. So my hearing is not the best to begin with due to all of the scar tissue that used to be my eardrum.


Wow!


JAM music when I listen to it. Why? Because I cannot hear it if I don't. I don't really think headphones and loud music are that bad for you that they can make you go deaf. I talked to my ear nose and throat doctor many times about it (because I like to shoot guns too) and even he said not to worry about it. You have a better chance hurting your ears by swimming then you do going to a concert or shooting guns or listening to loud music ect.


I don't know. That's what they said and I can't imagine the eardrum after being subjected to several years of really loud noise wouldn't be affected. I'm talking constantly, not just in intervals.



but perhaps this child played it loud because of hearing loss instead of the other way around?


That's a good point M! Perhaps it was there all along and no one really noticed.
on Oct 12, 2006

I just started using headphones back in 91, and now have a minor hearing loss.

Sad that your nephew's hearing loss is so profound so early in life!  You know,  my son is the one that always nagged me to turn my music down....instead of the reverse! 

I hope in the future your nephew can get some kind of hearing aid,  hearing is needed for so many jobs,  sorry to read about his hearing loss Serenity

on Oct 12, 2006
I used to have extreme hearing loss. A divorce cured it.
on Oct 12, 2006


I hope in the future your nephew can get some kind of hearing aid, hearing is needed for so many jobs, sorry to read about his hearing loss Serenity


Thank you Trudy. I was sad to hear about it too. It's upsetting to think about because he is so young. I know they will be getting the help he will need though, which is good.


I used to have extreme hearing loss. A divorce cured it.

Hahaha, you're a nut M! Haha  
on Oct 13, 2006
I have hearing loss due to tinnitus, which I recently found out is congenital. I've written about it in my blog a few times so I won't say it again here. As a musician, it has caused problems but my doctor said pretty much the same as CaraCarn1's said in that I shouldn't worry about it and keep playing music. I just have to take more care and rest my ears well. I do a lot of preproduction using headphones but as a rule of thumb, if I can't hear my fingers click, then the phones are too loud. Some people have their phones so loud, I don't know how they can stand it. I saw a young woman, IPod up loud, crossing a road right in front of a fire engine because she didn't hear it coming. How dangerous is that?
on Oct 13, 2006
I have hearing loss due to tinnitus, which I recently found out is congenital. I've written about it in my blog a few times so I won't say it again here.


I remember you talking about it before.



if I can't hear my fingers click, then the phones are too loud.


This is a good test to use. I like that suggestion.


I saw a young woman, IPod up loud, crossing a road right in front of a fire engine because she didn't hear it coming. How dangerous is that?


Geech! She's lucky she didnt' get killed.

on Oct 13, 2006
She's lucky she didn't get killed


She is also lucky the firecrew didn't stop, get out and jump all over her. The sheer stupidity of the situation was ridiculous. If I'd not been in a hurry, I would have had a go at her, for sure. My brother is a fireman and often talks of how people either don't hear or simply ignore sirens these days. Sad, really, when you think about it.