Can we talk about hearing?

[Belia]

Ummm..... OUR hearing?!? As parents?

My son makes this noise when he's upset that is a cross between a screech and a scream... at about a billion decibels. It is absolutely PIERCING and it pushes my buttons like nothing else.

And, of course, he usually screams this screech when his mouth is right next to my ear.

Today he did it in Walgreens as I was picking him up and I swear my ear was ringing for 20 minutes. Even now, 90 minutes later, it feels like I have cotton in my ear. And the beginnings of a headache.

I felt like throwing him across the store, Superman-styles, just as a reflex. Of course I didn't, but my temper is getting shorter and shorter in regards to this.

I'm really worried about my long-term hearing. Anyone have any insights? How should I respond when he does this?

[EmmaJane]

Tell me about it! The cottony feeling is a temporary reaction (like after a concert) and will go away... but DD2 screeches loud enough to set it off ALL THE TIME, and I'm sure there's real damage occurring.

I ended up getting a monitor to use with DD2... I just can't hear her from the other end of the house like I could with DD1. Sure, some of that is that now I'm downstairs with the washing machine going and DD1 running around as DD2 naps, but I think a lot of it is that I'm 4 years older, and those have not been quiet years ...