MGC Year 9s took part in the National Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, thank you for taking part in our 2023 Hearing Screening and Make Listening Safe Programme.

This is such an important initiative to help young Kiwi kids with their hearing health as well as educate them on unsafe listening habits which unfortunately in this modern world are leading to increasingly high levels of youth hearing loss globally.

Marlborough Girls' College Hearing Screening results indicated that 4% of the students screened had abnormal hearing results. Some of these students are now being referred for a full hearing assessment. In addition, 24% of students advised they are experiencing ringing in the ears, otherwise known as Tinnitus. In the majority of cases, Tinnitus leads to hearing loss and hearing health issues in the future, this is a worrying trend we are seeing across New Zealand. Ringing in the ears is being experienced by even those students who are returning a normal hearing screening result, which could mean if they continue with unsafe listening habits, hearing loss could be a real issue in the future.

Unsafe listening habits mean listening to personal devices such as smartphones at higher volumes than recommended and for long periods. At Marlborough Girls' College, 36% of students are listening at unsafe levels, highlighting the importance of educating students and their parents on how young people can enjoy listening to music and recreational noise but safely to protect their hearing. Once your hearing is gone you cannot get it back.

The Make Listening Safe Education initiative is an important part of the Hearing Screening programme and aims to educate students and their parents on safe listening practices. Available on their website are resources that parents and young people can read through to protect their hearing, https://www.nfd.org.nz/school-programmes.

Please don't let hearing loss be part of your or your child's future.