Hearing Loss

2 in 3 parents say their child uses headphones or earbuds. Among parents whose child uses headphones or earbuds, 1 in 6 say a typical day for their child includes at least 2 hours using an audio device. Only half of parents have tried to limit their child’s usage of audio devices.

A majority of parents favor requiring regular hearing screenings for children from preschool through teenage years. For preschool-age children, two-thirds of parents prefer primary care offices for hearing screening. About half of parents prefer that hearing screening for older children take place in schools.

Two-thirds of parents have not talked with their teens about hearing loss; most of these parents believe their teens are not at risk. Over half of parents would be likely to buy volume-limiting headphones or earbuds, but only about one-third of parents think their teens would be willing to use them.