Tip - Noise-Cancelling Headphones

There are two types of noise-cancelling headphones: active and passive. Both types reduce distracting background noise, making your listening (or non-listening as the case may be) environment more comfortable and more restful.

Active noise-cancelling headphones contain a miniature microphone in the earpiece to detect ambient noise. This information is sent to noise-cancelling electronics, which then send out a wave that is directly opposite to the noise that needs to be erased. (It’s physics, and it works!) There is also a small battery to power these electronics.

Passive noise-cancelling headphones do not use electronics. They physically cover and seal off the ear, to help block out external noises. There are even in-ear designs that allow for increased fidelity at lower volumes of what you wish to hear.

Why might you want to use noise-cancelling headphones? They are great when traveling in noisy environments, such as planes, trains, and buses. Noise during travel is not just from the engine, but also from fellow passengers conversing. Of course, don’t use noise-cancellation technology if you are driving!

But you may also want to use noise-cancelling headphones when using loud home machinery, such as vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers. It’s much better to listen to a podcast, music, or audio book than to the roar of an engine.

Any time you need to mentally concentrate, noise-cancelling headphones come in handy. A special use case, if you’re trying to understand a lecture or other audio recording that was not well done, noise-cancellation can help you make better sense of what you are hearing at low volume.

Recent Research About the Effects of Children's Screen Time

Children gaming

Pediatricians and concerned parents have paid attention to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations concerning the amount of time youngsters spend watching television or engaged with other electronic media. However recent research calls these recommendations into question. Does additional screen time beyond the AAP recommendations adversely affect children’s mental health?

A UK study published in 2017 in Child Development surveyed parents of 2- to 5-year olds. They were asked how much time their child(ren) spent watching TV, playing video games, or engaged with electronic media (computers, cell phones, handheld electronic devices). They also answered questions about several measures of childhood psychological well-being, including attachment to the caregiver, reliance (bouncing back from not getting their way), curiosity about learning new things, and positive affect (smiling and laughing). The researchers controlled for ethnicity, age, gender, household income, and caregiver education, as these factors were thought to also affect childhood mental health. There was no significant difference between the mental health of children whose parents abided by the APA guideline and youngsters who spent more time in front of a television or other screen.

A different UK study published in 2019 in Nature Human Behavior examined adolescents’ mental health and use of digital technology. Researchers statistically examined three large datasets and found that the relationship between digital technology use and adolescent well-being explained only 0.4% of the variation among individuals. They conclude that “these effects are too small to warrant policy change.”  Apparently, the question of the impact of screen time on the mental health of young people is still open for debate.

Children’s Screen Time

Children and Computers

In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new guidelines for parents concerning their children’s screen time, encouraging limiting their exposure to television and other forms of electronic media. Among the age-related recommendations:

• Children under 18 months old should not be exposed at all, except for video-chatting with distant family members.
• Children from 18 months to 2 years old can be introduced to high quality programs while sitting with and discussing with their parents.
• Children from 2 to 5 years should continue to watch appropriate programs with their parents, no more than 1 hour per day.

School age children and teens should have consistent rules about use of electronic media, including types and time spent. They should be encouraged to have media-free family time, media-free locations in their homes, and adequate sleep and physical activity.

Parents are encouraged to create a Family Media Plan. The Plan will help family members choose and use online media purposefully, without taking the place of physical exercise, family-oriented time or sleep.

More specific guidance for parents of children under age 5 and for school-age children and teens is available.

Children’s Mental Health Week was February 4-10, 2019

Strengthening Mental Health

Those of us who parent or care for children often focus on their physical well being. We want to be sure our children eat healthy foods, stay active, and get enough sleep. But bodies and minds are closely linked, so it’s also important to support our children’s mental health.

Here are some resources to help parents and carers support children’s mental health:

• http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/helping-home-tips-parents
• https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/parents-and-carers/
• https://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/early-childhood/about-mental-health/mental-health-basics/supporting-childrens-mental-health
• https://www.canadianliving.com/health/mind-and-spirit/article/4-ways-parents-can-support-their-children-s-mental-health