I just read a startling fact - hearing loss among teens is up more than 30% from just a few years ago. While the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is not trying to say that it is all from personal listening devices like MP3 players and iPods, it is trying to help teens and parents avoid additional hearing loss by their "Listen to Your Buds" campaign. This campaign is about educating children and teens about the need to keep volumes coming through their ear buds at appropriate levels. If you have wondered about how loud the music is in the music player your children use, the information from "Listen to Your Buds" would be important for you.
In addition to music players, children's hearing can be impacted by environmental noise, game activities, and injuries to the ear. Information about protecting your children from these causes of hearing loss are also available on the Listen to Your Buds campaign website.
As one who has experienced mild hearing loss from repeated ear infections as a child (and an adult), I can encourage all parents to take a stronger approach to preventing hearing loss in our children. And watch for a presentation at your kids' school from the Listen to Your Buds team.