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Noisy Kindergartens Are Damaging Hearing

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A recent report out of Norway (September 11, 2008) revealed a shocking statistic. “One in six children are affected by kindergarten noise.” One in four employees suffer permanent hearing loss for the same reason (1).

Figures published by the pre-school teacher’s union and work safety authorities indicate that stress, headaches, tinnitus, learning difficulties and at worst, impaired hearing can affect children in noisy kindergartens, according to daily newspaper Dagbladet.

According to a Labor Inspection Authority report from 2005, 75 percent of kindergarten employees are exposed to harmful levels of noise at work. This means that the kids are also exposed to these same harmful sound levels.

Things are no better over here. Many kindergartens are noisy places. I know. My younger daughter works in one. But this does not have to be. She told me the remarkable difference in noise levels in Montessori schools she has also taught in. Maybe the kindergartens should learn how the Montessori schools control excessive racket and do the same. Reducing this harmful racket will benefit both the kids and the staff.
____________

(1) Aftenposten English Web Desk / NTB. http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2648128.ece

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Will says

    October 23, 2008 at 2:16 AM

    Well this might explain why my ears have been taking a battering after starting a teaching job teaching elementary kids….I was considering using my ear plugs and this post has convinced me.

    Reply

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Loop Systems

Loop your home or meeting room. Discover how you can hear wonderfully clear sound again when listening to the TV/radio, etc, or when listening to a speaker at a meeting.

Loop systems are one of the best-kept secrets in town. To learn more about Loop Systems and what they can do for you, click here.

Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How

If your ears ring, buzz, chirp, hiss, click or roar, you know just how annoying tinnitus can be. You do not have to put up with this racket for the rest of your life. This book teaches you many things you can do to help bring your tinnitus under your control so it no longer bothers you.

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Sounds Now Too Loud for You?

Hypersensitive to Sound front coverIf some (or all) normal sounds seem so loud they “blow the top of your head off”, or make you wince or jump, or cause you headaches or ear pain, or affect your balance, or result in fear or annoyance of sounds so you feel you have to avoid these sounds, this book is for you!

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Hearing Phantom Sounds?

When hard of hearing people begin hearing phantom voices or music, they immediately worry they are going crazy. It never crosses their minds that they are sane and are just experiencing Musical Ear syndrome.

To learn more about the strange phantom sounds of Musical Ear syndrome and what you can do about them, click here to read a comprehensive article about Musical Ear Syndrome.

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Center for Hearing Loss Help

Neil G. Bauman, Ph.D.

1013 Ridgeway Drive, Lynden,
WA 98264-1057 USA

Email: neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Phone: 360-778-1266 (M-F 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PST)

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"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [which also includes perfect hearing] through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6:23]

"But know this, in the last days perilous times will come" [2 Timothy 3:1]. "For there will be famines, pestilences, and [severe] earthquakes in various places" [Matthew 24:7], "distress of nations, the sea and the waves roaring"—tsunamis, hurricanes—Luke 21:25, but this is good news if you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads [and rejoice] because your redemption draws near" [Luke 21:28].