Middle Childhood Health Concerns
By: Blair Rector
HEARING
- awareness of midrange sounds develop first
- by age 11, they have the auditory awareness as adults
- ear infections are common
- if left untreated, they could have hearing loss
- Eustachian tube changes position during this stage
- It prevents bacteria and fluids from moving from the mouth to the ear
VISION
- can see an object with both eyes at the same time
- ability to focus improves
- farsighted- can see objects in the distance more clearly than up close
- near sighted- able to see up close more clearly than at a distance
- 25% of children will have their eyesight corrected
TEETH
- begin to lose their baby teeth
- central incisors fall out first
- by age 12, all 20 primary teeth will be replaced with permanent teeth
- teeth are out of proportion at first
- face lengthens and mouth widens
- tooth loss causes self-cautious
- tooth decay is common
OBESITY
- it is characterized by excessively body fat
- defined if s/he weighs 20% more than other people of the same age
- obesity affects 25% of school-age children
- impacts child's emotional health
- overweight parents and environments contribute
- stress and physical inactivity contribute as well
- overweight as a kid leads to overweight as an adult