Health Discoveries in General Health News
Nearly 20 percent of teens have hearing loss, study shows
August 19, 2010
Researchers from Vanderbilt and Harvard universities have found that nearly 20 percent of adolescents age 12 to 19 are experiencing hearing loss, an increase of 5 percent in the past 15 years.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published their findings, which showed the prevalence of hearing loss among teens to be 14.9 percent in 1988 to 1994 compared to 19.5 percent during 2005 to 2006. The conclusions were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during those periods and included several thousand teens.
"You already are looking at one in 20 adolescents who has a notable hearing loss and one in five is showing signs that they are on the route to having hearing loss," said Dr. Ron Eavey, a professor of otolaryngology at Vanderbilt.
The researchers hypothesize that much of the hearing loss can be attributed to loud volume. Eavey said electonic music devices should be pre-set between one-half and two-thirds maximum volume and not above 85 decibels, which is considered an unsafe level.
The audiology service at the Hearing and Speech Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center offers advanced diagnosis of hearing and balance disorders in newborns to geriatric patients.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published their findings, which showed the prevalence of hearing loss among teens to be 14.9 percent in 1988 to 1994 compared to 19.5 percent during 2005 to 2006. The conclusions were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during those periods and included several thousand teens.
"You already are looking at one in 20 adolescents who has a notable hearing loss and one in five is showing signs that they are on the route to having hearing loss," said Dr. Ron Eavey, a professor of otolaryngology at Vanderbilt.
The researchers hypothesize that much of the hearing loss can be attributed to loud volume. Eavey said electonic music devices should be pre-set between one-half and two-thirds maximum volume and not above 85 decibels, which is considered an unsafe level.
The audiology service at the Hearing and Speech Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center offers advanced diagnosis of hearing and balance disorders in newborns to geriatric patients.