Inviting babies to watch a movie, especially if your child is fussy and crying, will not only make other visitors unable to enjoy the film. Maybe you consider it trivial because you can put your baby to sleep or breastfeed while in the cinema. However, the habit of carrying a baby watching a movie for a long time can damage his hearing in the long run. Check out the reviews here.
Babies watching movies run the risk of hearing loss
Parents who carelessly bring babies or children who are still very young to watch movies to the movies unconsciously play a role in increasing the risk of permanent baby hearing loss.
An advanced sound system that is found in almost all leading theaters can issue a volume of up to 85 decibels (dB), even if it is only a standard conversation sound. Not counting the increase in decibels that could be many times when the actor shouted, or from gunshots to explosions.
Pediatrician Ahed Bisharat said that sounds above 85 dB are very dangerous for the baby's ears. The baby has a sensitive sense of hearing, and he is also very attentive to the sounds around him. Sound at a high decibel level can cause damage to the inner baby ear, especially the cochlea. The cochlea functions to process sound so that it can be heard by the owner of the body.
Sounds above 100 dB risk causing permanent hearing loss in children
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, noise levels exceeding 45 decibels in infants need special attention, and some films such as action films can have a noise level of 90 decibels. Sound volume above 100 decibels for 15 minutes can cause permanent hearing loss in children.
The duration of the noise and how often the baby is exposed to loud sounds from time to time is also a trigger factor for baby's hearing loss.
Frequently exposing babies or young children to a loud voice and not wearing ear protectors, such as ear plugs, will cause baby's hearing loss.
In addition, the noise that children receive continuously can also cause damage to the cells needed for hearing and speech perception. This can jeopardize the child's growth process in the future.
Rules if you have to bring a baby to watch a movie
Ideally, babies and children should not be invited to watch a movie until they are truly ready. Ready in the sense of development is mature, and psychologically ready to digest the shows presented on the screen.
Choose a child-friendly film, and if you have to take a baby to watch a movie, take your child to a cinema that has special cinema facilities for children and families. This cinema has adjusted the volume level lower and brighter lighting to suit the needs of the child. You can also attach ear plugs to your child to prevent the risk of hearing loss in babies.
Finally, if the baby shows signs of being bored or uncomfortable, get out of the cinema to calm him down before the child starts fussing. An uncomfortable atmosphere, coupled with the noise that he heard from the show can make him even more fussy.