“Watching airplanes okay for ears?”
I would like to know if it is safe for a three year old’s ears to watch planes take off and land.
Male | 3 years old
6 Answers
Ear-NoseandThroatDoctor(Pediatric)Ear,NoseandThroat(ENT)
This depends mostly on the distance you will be away from the aircraft. While sound level meter apps on cell phones are not 100% accurate, you could use the NIOSH app to get an idea of how loud it is at the place you'll be watching from. If the sound is over 90 decibels, I recommend hearing protection. If the child is covering his ears voluntarily, go ahead and use hearing protection for his comfort. At three, over-the-ear earmuff style hearing protection is great. These can be found online from many retailers, and he can choose a fun color or design to make using them more enjoyable.
Dr. Joni K. Doherty
Ear-Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT) | Otology & Neurotology
Los Angeles, California
Yes, watching airplanes is safe for the ears, but only with proper ear protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs (over the ears).
If it’s happening in the airport and close by, yes it does.
You can use a free sound meter app on your cellphone to know the exact decibel level of any given sound. You should use two or three of them, though, because some are inaccurate. Any sound that is 85 db or higher is hazardous to human hearing.
Noise above 85 dB can cause hearing damage, especially if it is consistent. I would get some kind of hearing protection for him if exposing him to close plane take-off and landings.
Depends on how close watching from and potential noise exposure. You can get a ph. app with a decibel meter. If the noise level exceeds 85 decibels, use ear plugs or headphones.
