Has your child had a hearing screening recently? If not, now is the perfect time to schedule one. Hearing tests are especially important for school children as hearing plays a key role in the learning process.
Today, we’ll walk you through some of the top reasons why hearing tests are critical for children who are back in school. Then, we’ll offer some tips you can use to help your child avoid hearing loss now and in the future.
Why are hearing tests important for school-aged children?
The truth is, hearing tests are essential for people of ALL ages for the effective detection and treatment of hearing loss. Hearing tests for school children are especially important, though, because the entire learning experience can be affected by your child’s hearing ability.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 have some degree of hearing loss. And, this age range covers the elementary, middle, junior, and high school experience for most children.
Younger children may not be able to verbally express any difficulties they’re encountering with hearing. Unfortunately, this can often appear like they’re not paying attention, leading to inappropriate treatment or even a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. On the other hand, older students may ignore signs of hearing loss or be too embarrassed to say anything about them. Regular hearing tests for back to school children can be an easy way to detect hearing problems in children of all ages, regardless of whether or not they recognize a hearing problem themselves.
How can you prevent your child from experiencing hearing loss?
1. Make sure your child uses safe earbuds and headphones.
In today’s digital age, many children wear earbuds or headphones for a good portion of the day. That’s because they listen to music at home, while they’re working out, during sporting events, and on the bus to school. When in the classroom, they may also be required to wear earbuds or headphones in order to complete schoolwork on their laptops or desktop computers.
You can help your child avoid noise-induced hearing loss simply by teaching them the dangers of repeated exposure to loud noise. For younger children who may not completely understand, you can purchase volume-limiting devices so it’s not possible to turn up the volume too high. When appropriate, children can also use noise-canceling headphones to eliminate background noise that sometimes causes people to turn up the volume in order to be able to hear properly.
2. Teach your child about the benefits of hearing protection.
While children may have control over the volume of their own listening devices, they may attend events or be in environments where they DON’T have volume control. Think of loud sporting events, concerts, or even recreational activities like hunting or mowing the lawn where noise levels can easily reach a level that could cause hearing loss. In these instances, it’s important to recognize the need for hearing protection. Make sure your child has access to digital hearing protection, earplugs, or another acceptable form of hearing protection AND that they understand why they should wear them.
3. Recognize the signs of hearing loss and schedule a hearing test if needed.
Some cases of hearing loss may NOT be prevented, or your child may already have hearing loss for one reason or another. If they ask you to repeat yourself frequently or constantly turn up the volume on the TV or other electronic devices, these are signs that they could have hearing loss. Don’t ignore these symptoms but instead, schedule a hearing test with your local audiologist as soon as possible. While you may not be able to reverse hearing loss that has already occurred, it COULD be possible to prevent further loss.
Hearing tests for school children in Mesa or Scottsdale, AZ
Some schools offer free hearing tests provided by the school nurse or local physician. If your child hasn’t had a hearing screening recently, however, it’s time to take their hearing health into your own hands.
At Advanced Hearing Group, our audiologists work with people of all ages who have hearing loss. This includes infants, toddlers, school-aged children, teens, adults, and the elderly. Simply schedule a hearing test with our Mesa or Scottsdale audiologists today and we’ll be happy to complete a thorough hearing evaluation. Your child’s hearing health is too important to ignore. Schedule an appointment today!
