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Popping balloons may result in hearing loss, says study
Posted on: 02/Feb/2017 9:59:04 AM
A new study conducted by the University of Alberta in Canada has said that popping balloons - a common birthday party favour - can be louder than shotgun blasts and may lead to permanent hearing loss.
The scientists measured the noise generated by bursting balloons and were startled to find that the impact, at its highest level, was comparable to a high-powered shotgun going off next to someone`s ear.
Speaking about this, they said, We are not out to be party-poopers, but we want to use our findings about bombastic balloon noise, to raise awareness about general risks to hearing. This research is a conversation starter. We are not saying don`t play with balloons and don`t have fun, just try to guard against popping them. Hearing loss is insidious - every loud noise that occurs has a potential lifelong impact.
We want people to be mindful of hearing damage over a lifetime, because once you get to the back end of life, no hearing aid is as good as the once healthy built-in system in your inner ear. We wanted to explore the balloon noise that often goes hand-in-hand with birthday parties, where the urge to pop the floating toy is irresistible. I thought the acoustic insult on those kids` ears must be something to be concerned about, so we asked the question, how loud are these things? Even one exposure could be considered potentially unsafe to hearing for both children and adults.
It`s amazing how loud the balloons are. Nobody would let their child shoot something that loud without hearing protection, but balloons don`t cross people`s minds. Hearing damage occurs when the delicate hair cells - which don`t regrow - in the inner ear are worn down by noise. People need to start viewing cumulative hearing loss the same way they think about an equally passive but very real health concern like sun damage
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