TEENS: Do you listen to music every day? How often do you find yourself watching television? Common Sense Media conducted a survey of over 2,000 teens recently and discovered that two-thirds of the teens surveyed said they listen to music every day, and 76 percent said they also listen to music while working. Common Sense Media monitors youths' media use and provides recommendations to parents.

According to founder James Steyer, "Nearly two-thirds of teens today tell us they don't think watching TV or texting while doing homework makes any difference to their ability to study and learn, even though there's more and more research to the contrary."

Wise parents will learn useful parenting skills from this information.

YOUR CONCERN IS JUSTIFIED

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 years old and my wonderful mother is 36, and a single mom since my parents divorced five years ago. My dad has since remarried, but my mother didn't date for a pretty long time. Then about six months ago she started dating a very nice guy. He is also divorced and his ex-wife has custody of their 14-year-old daughter.

I am happy that my mother has a boyfriend and seems happy, but I am worried that she has been losing a lot of weight. When she started dating Ken, she started a very strict diet and has been eating lots of salads and very little else. I'm sure she has lost about 20 pounds.

Whenever I tell Mom that I think she looks too thin, she says that she's still too fat. This bothers me because I'm worried that she may be anorexic. What should I do? - Worried, Providence, R.I.

WORRIED: Most people (nearly 90 percent) who suffer from the eating disorder "anorexia nervosa" developed it in their teen years. However, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, reports that people (usually females) up to age 50 have been known to become anorexic for the first time. So your concern is certainly justified.

Speak to Ken about this and tell him you are concerned that your mother may have an eating disorder because she has been losing too much weight. Ask him to encourage her to visit a doctor. Also, discuss the matter with other members of your family and perhaps a close friend of your mother's. Ask for their input and help as well. This is a matter that you shouldn't have to handle by yourself. But don't stop seeking help and advice until you are convinced that Mom is eating normally again.

PARENTS ARE A BIT EXCESSIVE

DR. WALLACE: I'm a junior in high school and maintain a better than "B" average in the college prep program. Even though I know studying is important, I think my parents are being unreasonable. They have put me on a schedule with assigned Study Time from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Even if I finish all my homework, I'm not allowed to watch T.V. during that time. To make matters even worse, I have to study for a total of two hours on the weekends, but I do get to choose when this will be.

I'm very unhappy about this forced study time and I resent that they dictate everything in my life. I'd like to hear your opinion. — R.D. Oklahoma City, Okla.

R.D.: Providing a set schedule for study is a good idea, but it seems your parents are excessive with their demands. I believe that unless a special project is required, ten hours per week of study time at home should be sufficient. Perhaps a call from your counselor might help make your study time more reasonable.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Jim Larrison