Hear this! 

earing loss has often been associated with aging, but statistics reveal that over the last decade the percentage of grade two children with hearing loss has increased by 280%, and the number for eighth graders has climbed over 400%.

Our modern lifestyles carry the burden of the blame. Ear buds used for listening to music and playing video games are a particular hazard for young ears. Placed directly into the ear, these devices can amplify sound by as much as six to 9 decibels. No matter what your age, avoid earphone use as much as possible and opt for the muff-type for private listening. And be sure to turn down the volume: if you can’t hear a normal conversation with someone an arm’s length from you, the music is too loud. Some smart phones and other devices offer inexpensive or free sound meter applications to limit volume, which may be useful for parental control of a child’s listening device.  H&L