This is a figure that worries specialists: 14% of children under ten have already consulted for ringing in the ears, showed an Ifop survey for the association “National Hearing Day” (JNA). This represents 1.3 million children, specifies The Parisian. “These results challenge us! Until then, we were always interested in adults, ”reacted Jean-Luc Puel, president of the association and director of research at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
Beware of headphones and earphones
For the specialist, it is time to better identify and treat chronic ear infections in the youngest. These pathologies can indeed lead to deafness or language delay, among other things. Jean-Luc Puel also pointed to the use of earphones and helmets among children. Because nearly 30% of those who went to consult would use it on a daily basis.
“Children’s ears are much more fragile than those of adults. Ultimately, this can lead to presbycusis, aging hearing at 40 instead of 60! “, he warned. The situation is all the more worrying as the ear is said to be “fully maturing” until the age of 10, indicates an explanatory file published by JNA. Quoted by TF1 Infothe president of the French ENT college Cécile Parietti-Winkler evokes a “time bomb” with immediately invisible cell damage.
Watch out for certain events
The sound level of certain concerts or festivals is also a concern. JNA experts believe that only half of parents are properly informed on the subject. However, the association does not recommend systematically avoiding these events. But action is needed, they say. For them, it is advisable to keep children away from loudspeakers, to make them wear noise-canceling headphones and not to stay in place for long.