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Doctors Warn of Risks to Infants at Loud Concerts
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Health & Science

Doctors Warn of Risks to Infants at Loud Concerts

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Doctors warn that loud music at concerts can permanently damage infants' hearing.
  • While protective headphones can reduce noise, they do not eliminate it entirely.
  • Experts advise against exposing babies to noise levels above 70 decibels, recommending concerts only for older children.

Doctors are warning parents about the risks of taking infants to concerts, citing the potential for permanent hearing damage from loud music.

Colombian singer Maluma recently paused a concert in Mexico City to address a parent holding a baby in the audience, reigniting debate about the safety of bringing young children to loud musical events. Similar discussions arose after musician Dominik Fike brought his baby on stage at the Lollapalooza festival and a video of a child sleeping on the floor during a Taylor Swift concert went viral last year.

Doctors caution that prolonged exposure to noise above 95 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss within minutes. Concerts often reach levels between 90 and 120 decibels. In addition to hearing damage, loud noise can lead to increased sound sensitivity and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Pediatrician Dr. Michael Glazier suggests that babies should not be exposed to noise exceeding approximately 70 decibels, comparable to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

We do not recommend prolonged exposure to noise above 95 decibels, as just a few minutes can cause permanent hearing loss.

โ€” Dr. Abit RediA pediatric otolaryngologist from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center explains the dangers of loud noise exposure for children's hearing.

Some parents use protective headphones for infants at concerts. Dr. Abit Redi recommends models that fully cover the ears and can reduce noise levels by 20 to 30 decibels. Dr. Glazier mentions models like Minimuffs, used even in neonatal intensive care units for premature babies. However, experts emphasize that these headphones only reduce, not eliminate, noise.

Experts generally agree that large concerts are unsuitable for babies whose hearing is still developing and highly sensitive to loud sounds. Beyond noise, parents should consider other risks such as passive smoking, large crowds, and the presence of intoxicated individuals. Dr. Glazier believes it is better to wait until children are old enough to understand the situation, enjoy the concert, and better tolerate loud music and excitement.

They only reduce the noise level, but do not eliminate it completely.

โ€” Dr. Michael GlazierA pediatrician warns that protective headphones are not a complete solution for mitigating noise exposure at concerts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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