A new research study has found that one in five American teenagers already has some degree of hearing loss—-a startling 31 percent increase since the late 1980s.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston used government survey data to compare rates of hearing loss among 12- to 19-year-olds during 1988 to 1994, with the period 2005 to 2006. They based their findings on records of and interviews with nearly 4,700 kids ages 12-19 in a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The results showed that the number of teens with impaired hearing in at least one ear rose to 20 percent from 15 percent. The study results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In most cases, the hearing loss was slight. However, hearing loss is usually permanent and potentially progressive. Even mild degrees of hearing loss in children can negatively affect their educational performance and their social interactions.
The reason for the dramatic increase in hearing loss isn't clear, but many
parents contend with kids who play their video games and portable music players
too loud. Long-term exposure to very loud noises, including music, can cause
permanent hearing loss. A case in point: a recent study of children in
Australia found a 70 percent increased risk of hearing loss with the use of
personal stereo devices.
If you notice changes in your child's hearing — especially in the ability to hear when there's background noise – you should consider taking your child for a hearing test. And check back for my next blog, which will offer ways parents can protect their children's hearing.