Scoliosis
About 3 percent of the population suffers from scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that develops after age nine. Five times as many girls as boys are affected. Treatment options for scoliosis depend on the severity of the curvature. Very mild cases just need to be watched; orthopedic braces may be used for moderate cases; and severe cases may require surgery.
Shoulder, Neck, and Back Pain
A common culprit in tween pains of the upper trunk is carrying backpacks that are too heavy. The rule of thumb is that they should weigh less than 10 percent of your child’s weight. If your tween has lots of heavy textbooks, help him figure out ways to lighten his load. Another important factor is how he carries his backpack. Advise your child to use both straps rather than slinging the pack over one shoulder, since he will automatically raise one shoulder and shift his weight to achieve better balance. Be sure the straps are wide enough so they don’t dig into your child’s shoulders.
Ear Protection
Earphones aren’t necessarily a solution to the problem of a tween whose music is blasting you out of the house. Unless she turns down the volume, she can damage her ears. Temporary hearing loss can result from just fifteen minutes’ exposure to loud noise. More prolonged exposure can result in permanent hearing loss. If your child goes to a concert, be sure she takes along some earplugs.
Vision Problems
Many children get their first pair of glasses during the tween years. The common symptoms of poor vision are sitting too close to the TV, holding a book close to the face, squinting, having difficulty seeing objects at a distance, and not being able to read the blackboard in school. Schedule an eye exam, but know that sitting close to the TV and holding a book close to the face don’t necessarily indicate myopia. Children are more able to focus on near objects than adults, so sitting near the tube may simply be a habit.
