Menu
Your growing teen may be becoming stronger and more independent, but that doesn’t mean you should stop worrying about their health. One of the things that you need to look out for is their hearing health. They are at risk because they’re constantly exposed to high levels of noise caused by their mobile devices and the activities they like to do, like going to concerts or parties.
If you think your child is at risk of damaging their hearing, it’s best to take them to a hearing clinic to have them checked. In the meantime, you should know the signs that your child is having hearing problems and what you can do to prevent damage:
Catching hearing loss early means you have a higher chance of reducing further damage and preventing complete hearing loss. Some teens who experience hearing loss also develop depression, and it’s not uncommon for them to perform poorly at school. All these can affect their social life, too.
The problem with hearing loss is that it happens gradually, and often it goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Therefore, it is crucial that you monitor your teen’s behavior to see if there are any changes that might be an indication of a hearing problem.
Here are some signs to watch out for:
If your teen likes to use headphones to listen to music or watch shows on their gadgets, you should limit their use. You can set rules that they should follow, like listening at 50% volume and no longer than an hour at a time. Headphones at 100% volume can be as high as 120 decibels which is like being in a rock concert.
Headphones are indeed one major cause of hearing damage, but they’re not the only one. Even recreational activities and even yard work could cause ear damage. For instance, a study showed that kids who are a part of recreational firearm activities are at a higher risk of hearing loss, and so are loud concerts and noise from lawn mowing. You might want to consider getting high-quality ear protection to minimize the risk.
Sometimes, teens are unaware of the hearing problems associated with the things they do because they do not know about it. When you give them rules, make sure that you back them with studies and data so that they know that you’re not just giving directions because you want to.
Of course, you should also be a role model for this. Don’t play loud music at home, and consider getting hearing tests performed for both you and your teen on a regular basis.
Hearing is part of the five senses that you don’t want your teen to lose. However, not taking care of one’s hearing can lead to hearing damage. That’s why it’s so important that you take precautionary measures so your teen won’t suffer from hearing loss. You should also consider taking your child to a hearing clinic regularly to ensure that everything is fine with their hearing.
Fraser Valley Beltone is a trusted hearing clinic in Langley that can conduct tests to assess your teen’s hearing and provide hearing aids if necessary. Contact us today to book an appointment!