Doctors warn loud festival noise puts children at risk of ear damage

Festive celebrations bring loud noises from firecrackers, heavy traffic, and blaring speakers that pose serious risks to children's hearing health.

Medical Risks

Dr Shrekha Padmakshan, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Fortis Hospital in Kalyan, notes that children's ears are not biologically weaker than adult ears. Their smaller ear canals can deliver higher sound pressure straight to the eardrum, and children are less likely to shield themselves from loud sounds. Possible injuries include acoustic trauma, tinnitus, eardrum perforation, and rare cases of ossicular damage. Firework blast injuries often appear alongside burns and eye injuries.

Warning Signs

Children face daily noise exposure from traffic, school sounds, and personal devices. Parents should watch for pain, bleeding, fluid discharge, sudden hearing loss, ringing, or muffled hearing that lasts for hours. Treatment for sudden hearing loss works best within the first 24 to 72 hours, requiring a same-day doctor visit.

Context

Loud festive celebrations during Diwali often cause a spike in noise pollution complaints and emergency medical visits across Indian cities. Protecting children from high decibel levels during celebrations helps prevent long-term hearing issues.