How can I protect my child's hearing?

Tips on how to protect your child's hearing

• Always listen to toys yourself before buying them. Remember that children will probably hold the toy close to his/her ears regardless of the ‘correct’ use of the toy.
• Remember to protect children’s hearing (as well as your own) from household noise such as power tools and other loud everyday items. Remember, safety around the home is not just about avoiding physical injury.
• If your child has an iPod, download the volume update and set the maximum yourself.
• Get your children to take responsibility for their hearing from an early age. Explain the consequences of loud noise.
• Reduce your child’s exposure to loud noise as much as possible. Don’t let your child play with noisy toys or electronic games for more than one hour a day. Follow the play session with ten minutes of quiet time.
• Encourage the use of earplugs for excessively noisy periods, such as practising with a school band. Special ear plugs are available for musicians.