Tyler Wynn
Babies' ears are more sensitive to sound than adults'. Their ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive. This increased sensitivity to sound makes them more prone to hearing damage, which can be permanent. Even short-term exposure to loud noises can affect a baby's neurological capacity to interpret sound. Therefore, it is important to protect babies' ears from loud noises, for example, by using noise-cancelling headphones or avoiding particularly loud events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Babies' ear canals | Smaller |
| Hair cells in the inner ears | More sensitive |
| Hair cells' ability to regenerate | Unable |
| Everyday sounds | Shouldn't faze babies |
| New loud sounds | May startle babies |
| Household appliances | Babies are more sensitive to these sounds |
| Earplugs | Not recommended for infants |
| Noise-cancelling headphones | Significantly decrease harmful sound waves entering a baby's ears |
| Safe volume for continuous play | 0–60 dB |
| Loud noise levels | 60–90 dB |
| Painful noise levels | Above 90 dB |
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What You'll Learn
Babies' ear anatomy
A baby's ears are more sensitive to sound than an adult's ears. Their ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive. These hair cells do not regenerate, so increased sensitivity to sound makes permanent hearing damage more likely.
The ear is the organ of hearing and balance. The outer or external ear is called the pinna or auricle. The outer ear has its particular shape due to the folds in the thin plate of cartilage that lies within an envelope of skin. The cartilage is soft at birth and hardens with age. The outer ear is connected to the inside or middle ear through the external auditory canal or tube. The tympanic membrane (eardrum) divides the external ear from the middle ear. The eardrum vibrates when sound waves or vibrations enter the ear.
The middle ear contains three of the smallest bones in the body: the malleus, incus, and stapes, also known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. These ossicles amplify the sound and send the sound waves to the inner ear. The ossicles are connected to the eardrum, with the malleus attached to the centre of the drum. The inner ear contains the cochlea, a fluid-filled hearing organ. Once the sound waves reach the inner ear, they are converted into electrical impulses, which the auditory nerve sends to the brain.
The Eustachian tube is a canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose. It helps equalize the pressure in the middle ear, which is needed for the proper transfer of sound waves. The tube is lined with mucous, similar to the nose and throat.
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Hearing tests for newborns
A baby's ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive compared to those of an adult. This increased sensitivity to sound makes babies more prone to hearing damage, which could lead to permanent hearing loss. Therefore, it is important to protect babies from loud noises and get their hearing screened.
There are two tests used to screen for hearing loss in babies: Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR). For the OAE test, a soft earphone is inserted into the baby's ear canal, and it plays sounds and measures an "echo" response that occurs in ears with normal hearing. If there is no echo, the baby might have hearing loss. During the ABR test, the baby wears small earphones and has electrodes painlessly placed on their head to measure how the auditory nerve and brain stem respond to sound. If the results of either test indicate hearing loss, a follow-up appointment with a pediatric audiologist—a hearing expert who specializes in the assessment and management of children with hearing loss—should be made.
If your baby does not pass the newborn hearing screening, a follow-up screening or hearing test will be needed in the days or weeks after leaving the birthing hospital. This is a crucial step in determining whether your baby has hearing loss. Some newborns who need a follow-up hearing screening or a hearing test have normal hearing, but some have hearing loss. If your newborn does not pass the hearing screening, it is important to make an appointment with an audiologist for a complete infant hearing test.
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Everyday sounds and sleep
Babies' ears are more sensitive to sound than adults'. Their ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive. This increased sensitivity to sound makes them more prone to hearing damage, which can be permanent. Even short-term exposure to extremely loud volumes can cause permanent hearing loss in babies. Therefore, it is important to limit their exposure to loud noises and consider using noise-cancelling headphones for them in very loud environments.
Everyday sounds can impact a baby's sleep. While some babies sleep better in silence, others find it soothing to fall asleep to the consistent hum of normal everyday household noises. Some experts believe this is because the womb is a noisy place, and babies are used to hearing sounds like the mother's heartbeat and the whooshing of blood flowing.
White noise is a popular tool to help babies sleep better. It creates a constant background sound that helps to mask other disruptive sounds, like outdoor traffic or a television in another room. White noise machines can also have additional features, such as lullabies, and can be adjusted depending on your baby's needs. However, some children may become so accustomed to white noise that they struggle to sleep without it.
Pink noise is another option for sleep support. It is similar to white noise but quieter, with a deeper, flatter sound. Examples of pink noise include radio or television static, a hairdryer, a car engine, a lawnmower, running water, the sound of steady rain, a waterfall, leaves rustling, and the sound of the ocean.
It is important to note that while most baby sleep sounds, like grunting, snoring, moaning, and gurgling, are normal, some noises can indicate a health concern. For example, certain scary sleep sounds could signal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), bronchiolitis, or respiratory distress syndrome. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the range of normal baby sleep sounds and consult a healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
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Hearing protection for babies
Babies' ears are more sensitive than adults' ears. Their ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive. These hair cells do not regenerate, so increased sensitivity to sound makes babies more prone to permanent hearing damage. Even short-term exposure to extremely loud volumes can cause permanent hearing loss in babies. In some cases, prolonged exposure to loud noises can affect a baby's neurological capacity to interpret sound.
Therefore, hearing protection for babies is crucial. One way to protect a baby's ears is to reduce their exposure to loud noises. This could mean leaving your baby with a babysitter instead of taking them to a noisy event such as a concert, a party, or a fireworks display.
However, if your baby is regularly exposed to loud environments, you should consider purchasing hearing protection equipment, such as noise-cancelling headphones. These do not block out all noise but significantly decrease the harmful sound waves entering a baby's ears. Noise-cancelling headphones are ideal when your baby is exposed to prolonged periods of extremely loud noise.
There are several options for baby ear protection on the market. One popular option is the Alpine Muffy Baby earmuffs, which offer 23-24 dB noise reduction and are designed for babies and toddlers up to four years of age. They have a soft, adjustable headband that ensures they stay in place and are easy to put on. The earmuffs are designed to avoid putting pressure on the baby's soft spot and comply with European and USA safety regulations. Another option for older children (aged 3 to 16) is the Alpine Muffy Kids earmuffs, which offer 25 dB noise attenuation and feature a silky-soft, adjustable headband.
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Safe volume levels
Babies' ear canals are smaller and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive compared to adults'. These hair cells do not regenerate, so increased sensitivity to sound makes babies more prone to damage, which can lead to permanent hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can even affect a baby's neurological capacity to interpret sound.
To protect your baby's hearing, you must be mindful of safe decibel levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that sound machines are kept at 50 dB or lower, while the CDC recommends keeping the volume under 60 dB. If you are using a white noise machine to help your baby sleep, keep the volume reasonably low, ideally under 60 dB. You can test the decibel level by using a decibel meter on your phone. An easy way to know if the volume is at a safe level is to stand next to your child's sleeping space and try to hold a normal conversation without raising your voice. If you can do this, the volume is safe.
If your baby is exposed to loud noise, consider hearing protection such as children's earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones. Avoid earplugs, as these can be a choking hazard. Choose toys that do not exceed 80-85 dB and avoid toys with sirens or popping sounds.
Remember, loud noise can cause a series of secondary health and cognitive issues for your baby, so it is important to be mindful of safe volume levels at all times.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, babies' ears are sensitive to sound. Their ear canals are smaller, and the hair cells in their inner ears are more sensitive compared to adults.
Babies are born relatively insensitive to sound, which helps numb the discomfort of the birthing process. By 3-4 weeks, this insensitivity wanes, and babies become more alert and unsettled by external stimuli.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can cause permanent hearing damage in babies. Even short-term exposure to extremely loud noises can lead to permanent hearing loss as the hair cells in the inner ear cannot regenerate.
You can reduce your baby's exposure to loud noises by using noise-cancelling headphones or ear muffs. You can also be mindful of the volume of household appliances and music systems.
Your baby will have a hearing test shortly after birth, which involves placing a small, soft earpiece in their ear and playing gentle clicking sounds. You can also stimulate your baby's hearing by talking and reading to them.
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