Encouraging children to protect their hearing from noise is the objective of a new joint effort between The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health.

Both organizations have national campaigns that address the young and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, an important health concern. Aimed at very young children, parents, and educators, ASHA’s “Listen To Your Buds” campaign features a concert series; a national coalition of Parents’ Choice Foundation award-winning musicians who specialize in children’s music; and an interactive bilingual Web site (www.listentoyourbuds.org) with educational games for kids and resources for parents and teachers, all for the purpose of instilling in the very young healthy hearing listening habits when using personal audio technology.

A complementary campaign by NIDCD, “It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing.” (www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov) encourages parents of ‘tweens (children ages 8 to 12) to teach their children how to adopt healthy habits that will help protect their hearing for life.

The next ASHA Listen To Your Buds concert will be held April 29 at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC.

It will be free and for local first- and second-graders. Billy Jonas will perform. The New York Times rated his video Bangin’ and Sangin’ a “Best” pick. The Los Angeles Times says, “[his] easy-going interaction … reaches out to young listeners. He’s a find.” Grammy-award winner Alison Krauss says, “Billy Jonas’ talent, wit and obvious love for children and learning make him and his music irresistible. Whenever I see him perform, my face hurts from smiling.” The concert, which promises to involve children in the music-making, will also kickoff Better Hearing and Speech Month, which is held annually in May.

ASHA is working in collaboration with Parents’ Choice Foundation on both its Buds concerts and the formation of a national coalition of musicians popular with children who pledge to promote ASHA’s safe listening message. Coalition members are found at http://parents-choice.org/budsconcert.cfm.

Meanwhile, the ASHA and NIDCD collaboration will include as well as go beyond the concert series. Both organizations will utilize their respective resources to disseminate educational information, tools, programs, and materials for target audiences.

ASHA is planning additional Listen To Your Buds concerts for the second half of the year in major cities besides Washington. Details about them will be shared as they become available.

Source: ASHA