As the school year begins, teens are diving back into activities they love—including band class and marching band. While these activities build skills, confidence and friendships, they can also expose teens to high sound levels for long periods. Developing healthy listening habits now can help protect hearing for years to come.

Whether practicing in the band room or performing on the field, musicians are regularly exposed to loud sounds. Repeated exposure to high-volume music can increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

Encourage your teen to:

• Wear musician’s earplugs during rehearsals and performances when appropriate.
• Take listening breaks during long practices.
• Stand farther away from louder instruments when possible.
• Report ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or muffled hearing after practice.
• Schedule regular hearing evaluations to establish a hearing health baseline.

Hearing loss often develops gradually, making routine hearing tests an important part of a teen’s overall wellness plan.

Healthy hearing supports academic performance, communication, teamwork and social connections. Teens who struggle to hear instructions may experience unnecessary challenges at school and in extracurricular activities.

At SH Audiology, our audiologists provide comprehensive hearing evaluations and personalized guidance to help teens maintain lifelong hearing health. Now is the perfect time to make hearing wellness part of the back-to-school routine.Schedule a hearing evaluation with us today and give your teen the tools for hearing success all school year long.