5 reasons to get your kids’ hearing checked this year
(BPT) - 
It isn’t just older adults who need to get their hearing tested periodically. Kids also need to have their hearing checked, especially with nearly half of teenagers already showing potential signs of hearing loss. Here are five good reasons why your youngster should begin the year by having his or her hearing tested by a qualified hearing care professional:
1. Forty-six percent of teens report hearing problems after engaging in activities known to damage hearing.
These risky activities include listening to excessively loud music and using lawn or power tools. In a recent Siemens survey of 500 teens in the United States, youngsters reported experiencing ringing, roaring, buzzing or pain in their ears after engaging in these activities - all possible warning signs of hearing loss and/or the onset of tinnitus (chronic ringing in the ears).
2. Kids don’t commonly wear hearing protection.
The same survey found that while many teens are aware of the risks these and similar activities pose to their hearing health, nearly nine out of 10 admit choosing not to protect their ears. Rather than lower the volume on their personal music players or wearing hearing protection in loud venues they roll the proverbial dice with their hearing, most likely thinking hearing loss is something they’ll “deal with later.” Unfortunately, the damage may be happening now.
3. Hearing and comprehending speech well is essential for a good education.
Kids and teens with undiagnosed hearing loss may not realize what they are missing, especially in classroom settings. If they are straining to hear their teacher, they are most likely missing out on vital instruction or misunderstanding directions, which in turn results in poor comprehension, low grades and a lack of faith in their ability to learn. If your child or teen is struggling in school, don’t assume it is due to deliberate inattention or a learning disability - get their hearing tested.
4. Isolation may lead to depression.
Having hearing loss has been linked to a greater likelihood of a child developing depression, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. A young person’s emotional state is directly influenced by the amount of coping required to get along when unable to hear well or communicate effectively. Many kids and teens with untreated hearing loss find themselves being left out of activities, and ignored or teased by their hearing peers, leading to isolation and loneliness - two well-known contributors to depression. Fortunately, new hearing aid models designed specifically for active kids and teens offer all the features today’s youth want, including wireless connectivity, water resistance, rechargeability and discretion.
5. It’s probably not too late to avoid permanent hearing damage.
In most cases, hearing damage is gradual and cumulative. For kids and teens, it may not be too late to avoid hearing loss and/or tinnitus becoming permanent parts of their lives. They can start using hearing protection at concerts or sporting event, or when using power tools. They can learn to dial down the volume on their MP3 players and switch from earbuds to headphones. By getting a hearing test and learning more about the risks of hearing loss, kids and teens can take positive steps to mitigate existing hearing problems.