Can loud noises affect a 2-year-old child's hearing ability?

Question

Hi doctor,

My question is about an incident involving my 2 years and 10 months old. We were standing at the curb, and a van went past and peeped its horn three or four times only about 3 feet away from us. They were peeping to say hi to someone nearby. This was two days ago. Immediately my hearing was affected and muffled, and still is. I am apprehensive for my child and heard there is a medicine that can be given to reduce noise damage. Please tell me where I would get this medicine and if it suits her. It is to reduce inflammation. Please help, as the noise level was painful.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you have mentioned, a deafening painful sound may affect the eardrum and may affect hearing. Usually, it is a temporary phenomenon and is recorded in a couple of days.

Is your daughter complaining of any ringing sounds or pain in the ear? If something like this happens, you need to consult an ENT(ear, nose, and throat) specialist. I suggest the safest medicine you can give for inflammation is Ibuprofen. You can also give Ibuprofen syrupp (100 mg/5 ml) twice a day for two days. Consult a specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take medications with their consent.

You can give Advil syrup (100 mg/5 ml) 5 ml twice a day for two days. Suppose you feel there are some changes in the hearing of your daughter, in that case, you should get an audiometry test done (by

consulting an ENT specialist) to confirm any hearing changes. If there are changes in hearing, then some other strong medication (steroids) can be given.

I feel everything will be alright; keep a watch, give Advil and decide on further action accordingly.

Take care

I am happy If I have helped you.