According to the results of an Erasmus University Medical Center study, Dutch children who used headphones to listen to music were more likely to have hearing loss, Reuters reported.
Of the 3,316 children who participated in the study who wore headphones once or twice per week, 14% (443) had difficulty hearing at high frequencies, when compared to children who didn’t use headphones at all. Factors like the length of time wearing the headphones and volume level did not affect the outcome, according to the Reuters article.
Though researchers weren’t sure that there was a direct connection between the music players and hearing loss, they said that it’s possible that this kind of music exposure may have an effect on hearing.
To read the article in its entirety, please click here.
Original Paper: Le Clercq CMP, Goedegebure A, Jaddoe VWV, Raat H, Baatenburg de Jong RJ, Van Der Schroeff MP. Association between portable music player use and hearing loss among children of school age in the Netherlands. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2684510
Source: Reuters, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
