As a parent of two children and an audiologist who has worked with thousands of children, you might think it would be easy for me to recommend which headphones parents should buy for their children.

As most parents will know, caring for children requires hundreds, if not thousands, of daily micro-decisions.

Is that food safe? Are those clothes warm enough? Is that swing too high?  Is this snack ok?

Parents can sometimes feel under constant pressure to do the right thing, whilst being bombarded with the latest information about everything from the importance of outdoor play to the benefits of eating a natural, healthy diet.

So, is it easy for me to provide advice to parents who come to me? Let’s look at some of the factors we need to consider before answering that question.

What makes a good set of children’s headphones?

For me, they must be safe, reliable, and easy to use.

That’s it. Simple. Parents want to know what they are providing their children with is safe. Then, will it last, and is it easy to use?

What do we mean by safe?

Safe or “safe sound” means quite simply, sound that is safe to listen to, with no risk of hearing damage. There are many situations in which our children are exposed to sounds, some under parental control, others less so.

For example, a 2-hour visit to the cinema. Or a 4-hour car journey listening to music through headphones.

It isn’t always easy as a parent to know what is safe, so any help from those providing the sound can be useful. For example, cinemas providing quieter screenings or headphone manufacturers designing safe listening products. To understand what is safe, let's look at how we measure sound.

How do we measure sound?

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Our ears can detect a wide range of sounds, from very small vibrations to extremely intense ones (0 dB to 120 dB).

Some examples of typical sounds are:

30 dB → quiet library

60 dB → conversation

85 dB → busy traffic

100 dB → loud pop concert

So, how do these levels relate to safe listening?

There are two components that affect how safe sounds are. One, the level as described above and the second, the duration, or time spent listening at that level.

Although different countries have their own recommendations for safe listening levels, there are some common guidelines worth considering.

For example, in the UK, weekly safe listening levels for adults are 80 dB for 40 hours, 90 dB for 4 hours, 95 dB for 75 minutes, and 100 dB for 20 minutes.

What you can quickly see from these figures is the significant differences in safe listening times across sound levels. In fact, reducing the sound by only 3 dB doubles the safe listening time.

Can listening to headphones damage hearing?

Headphones typically produce sound up to 95-105 dB, with some reaching 120 dB. This means for adults and children, listening to loud sounds through headphones can be harmful, particularly if the sounds are loud and listened to for a long time.

What can sound be harmful to hearing?

Let’s have a quick recap on how we hear. We have two ears, each with an identical structure. Sound waves enter the ear canal (the entrance to the ear and the bit where earwax is produced). These sound waves vibrate the eardrum, which in turn vibrates the middle ear bones (there are three smallest bones in the body), which then pass on the vibration to the cochlea.

In each cochlea, there are thousands of delicate hair cells, and if these vibrate too strongly or for too long, there is a risk of hearing damage. This can result in a person not hearing as well as before, or in the development of tinnitus, when sounds are heard in the head with no sounds entering the ears!

Are children at more risk of damage to their hearing than adults?

As a children’s audiologist, I would often measure the sound produced by a loudspeaker or hearing aid in a child’s ear canal. This required placing a small microphone in the earcanal and measuring the sound output.

We know that small ears produce more sound. Think of it this way: when sound enters a small space, bigger sounds are produced. Imagine putting the same headphones on an adult, measuring the sound in the ear, and then repeating the same on a child’s ear. In most cases, there would be a higher sound level in the child’s ear.

The same headphone produces sound approximately 3–6 dB louder in a young child’s ear. This is significant because every 3 dB increase halves the safe listening time.

Thus, children’s ears are more at risk from headphone use than adults' simply because of their ear size and shape!

What can headphone manufacturers do to promote safe listening?

The key factor to look for is a ‘volume-limiting’ feature in headphones. This prevents the child from listening at levels that could damage their hearing.  Typically, this limit is set at 85 dBA, a level considered potentially damaging. This doesn’t mean it is safe to listen at this maximum level for long periods, but it does limit one variable that contributes to safe listening. Without this feature, a child could listen at levels above 85 dBA, which are known to damage hearing.

Another helpful feature is the use of noise-cancelling headphones. These work by reducing background noise, allowing the headphone user to listen at quieter levels and, in turn, reducing their risk of hearing damage. Noise-cancelling headphones are a great way to use headphones more safely and are especially useful on car and train journeys, as well as in areas with background noise.

Reliability and ease of use

With the safe-listening features described above, children typically prefer colourful, lightweight, easy-to-use headphones. Most headphones are Bluetooth with easy connectivity to tablets and laptops. As important as looks and ease of use are, reliability is another important factor.

Children are not always careful with their toys or devices and often throw them on their beds, in their bags, and anywhere else they can find! Headphones that fold, are easily rechargeable, and are easy to store are always recommended.

My top tips for safe headphone listening for children? 

We know that children use headphones far more than their parents did when they were children.  Knowing this, here are some things to consider when choosing headphones for your child.

· Think carefully about your reasons for choosing headphones for your child. Are they for occasional use, or do you expect them to be used for long periods, for example, car and plane journeys?

 

· Will you be around to monitor how long they are used, or will they be left with other carers who are less likely to supervise their headphone use?

· If you decide to purchase headphones, remember that safety is the top priority. Headphones with ‘volume-limiting’ devices are essential, preferably noise-cancelling too. 

· A child could be in their room listening for hours with parents unaware that headphones are being used. As a guide, limiting headphone use to 1 hour a day and using noise-limiting headphones seems a sensible way to manage the risk to your child’s hearing.

· Occasionally, longer durations can be allowed, ensuring the volume level is not too loud. Noise-cancelling headphones are great when on journeys. 

· Always discuss with your child the need to look after their hearing and explain how the ear works and how delicate the inner structures are. Children are never too young to learn about their hearing!