The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic shift in school education. Today, remote virtual learning is the global option thanks to internet technology. Teachers and students are gradually adapting to online education. They are looking for ways to learn similar to traditional schooling.
However, this lockdown period has a significant effect on children’s lifestyles. Because they don’t have any outdoor activities or can’t physically meet their friends, they tend to be more plugged into electronic devices and stream videos. This, along with online classes, can cause cumulative harm to their mental and sensory health, which is why this article was written.
The Sensory Influences Of Online Classes
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around one billion children worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss due to their use of earphones. Excessive use of gadgets has always caused medical problems. Now, after about 3-4 month lockdown, ENT doctors are starting to notice a rise in the number of ailments in children who have been exposed for a long time to electronic noises.
Their vision and hearing are not the only issues. However, their mental abilities such as cognition and behavior are also at risk. Today, ENT specialists see anxious parents who complain of episodic headaches and photophobia (aversion towards bright light), eye strain, tinnitus (noises inside the ear), vertigo and imbalance, stress, fatigue, insomnia, and stress. Parents often mention cognitive and behavioral changes, such as a lack of interest or distraction in online classes. This phenomenon, which was not common in the past, seems to be a new issue due to virtual learning and gadget usage.
Visual flares, auras, photophobia, nausea, and headaches can be caused by poor headphones or overexposure to bright screens. These symptoms could be diagnosed as migraine in children. There is no cure for pediatric migraine. It is important to examine the child’s gadget-use habits and other downtime activities in these situations. The treatment involves lifestyle changes for parents and children, as well as the development of gadget etiquette to limit exposure.
Children can suffer from mental and physical problems from excessive use of mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers. When children spend too much time using gadgets, they are more likely to be sedentary, overweight, and have vision problems. They may also become more susceptible to seizures. Children exposed to long-term electronic signals have experienced hearing loss and noise. Sensory trauma to the hearing organ is similar to mobile phone over-exposure. It manifests as temporary hearing threshold shifts that can eventually lead to permanent hearing loss.
Our ears can enhance and reduce sounds by nature. The sound quality of headphones for school can increase the volume by up to 40dB compared to natural noise. Earphones can amplify sounds up to
The Following Guidelines Are Set Forth By The Occupational Safety And Health Administration And Centre For Disease Control USA Regarding Noise Exposure
To provide a pleasant listening experience, ENT specialists recommend the use of CE-marked certified high-quality headphones with an anti-noise filter to enhance learning. The prescribed sound levels for these phones should not be exceeded and there should be adequate breaks from noise exposure to allow the ears to rest and recharge. Ophthalmologists also emphasize the importance of using radiation-filtered screens and keeping a distance online. This is easier for the eyes. It is important to educate children about the dangers of hearing and visual impairment, limit their exposure time, and teach them good tech etiquette.
Safe online learning practices:
• Headphones are safer than ear-insert phone
• External speakers with good quality sound are safer if they have a volume of around 80 dB
• Many apps are free and can be downloaded via the internet. These apps can be used for monitoring the noise level in the area used by the child to learn e-learning.
• Buy high-quality gadgets for your child’s enjoyment
• Ear infections can be exacerbated by dirty earphones
• Before you give it to your child, make sure you have checked the sound levels.
• When your child wears headphones, be mindful of where you are – try to avoid loud environments
• Limit the volume of your device to no more than recommended levels (85dB).
• To allow hair cells to rest, encourage frequent breaks from noise exposure (at least 15 minutes per hour).
• Your child should not be allowed to use gadgets other than the time they are in class
• Encourage your child to practice yoga, meditation, art, and dance as a way of reviving their lifestyle.
• Schools can adopt safe practices while engaging in virtual learning
• Limit your online teaching to 4 hours per day