Prevent Childhood Hearing Loss
Almost 5 million American youngsters have noise-induced hearing loss - a statistic that's even more tragic when you consider it's something entirely preventable, according to the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). How? Turn down the volume on portable music players, avoid areas with excessive noise, and use earplugs when needed - but these are things many children just aren't doing, says Alison Grimes, academy president and head of the Audiology Clinic at UCLA Medical Center. "Parents and teachers need to help educate kids at home and at school," she says, adding that because children seldom complain about noise-induced hearing loss, it can be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may include distorted or muffled sound, difficulty understanding speech, or ringing in the ears. Kids should have their hearing checked regularly by an audiologist because good hearing is essential to speech development, learning and social skills.