Why Are Teens Experiencing Premature Hearing Loss?

When we think of hearing loss, we tend to think of it as a condition that primarily affects the elderly. In reality, illness, genetics, medications, and injury can cause hearing loss in people of all ages. But recently, hearing loss among teens has been on the rise. The main reason for this? Loud music and improper headphone use. Teenagers notoriously listen to loud music, and it appears as though it’s actually causing them to suffer some amount of hearing loss.

Fast Facts: Hearing Loss in Teens

• 1 in 6 U.S. teens shows signs of hearing loss.
• 46% of teens aged 13-19 reported experiencing ringing, buzzing, roaring, or pain in their ears after being around loud noises (ie: loud music, outdoor power tools, concerts, etc.).
• 9 in 10 teenagers engage in activities that put them at risk for hearing loss.

How to Identify Hearing Loss

If you think you’re suffering from hearing loss, ask yourself these few questions:

1. Am I having trouble hearing other people’s voices?
2. Do I frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves?
3. Do others tell me to lower the volume when watching TV or listening to the radio?
4. Do I ever miss parts of a conversation?

How to Protect Your Ears From Noise Damage

• Use high-quality headphones that are better able to transmit bass.
• Go into your music device’s "settings" and lower your max volume so that you can’t accidentally raise your volume too high.
• Ask others around you to tell you if they can hear your music. If they can hear it, it means it’s too loud.
• Only listen to music for 60 minutes at a time. After every hour, take a 20 minute break.
• Wear earplugs when you go to concerts or sporting events.

Hearing loss affects people at any age. If you believe you’re suffering from hearing loss, contact Dr. Han at Florida ENT. Utilizing the latest advances in medicine and state-of-the-art techniques, our goal is to treat our patients with comfort and compassion. To learn more about the services we provide, please call us today at 407-944-3340 to schedule an appointment.