CLEVELAND -- Drug use and sexual activity often are the biggest health issues facing teens, but few are telling their doctors, according to NewsChannel5's Tonya Strong in Wednesday's Connecting With Kids.

When it's time for Christina Hoff's checkup at the doctor's, her mother has to walk out of the room.

"It's nice to know that I have the option of not telling her and telling a doctor and knowing that there will be somebody there to listen to me," Hoff, 15, said.

For teenagers, that confidentiality may be crucial.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, almost half of all teens lie to their doctors about risky behaviors like sexual activity or drug use because they're afraid their doctor will tell their parents.

For the same reason, 25 percent avoid going to a doctor altogether.

"And if they do have a sexually transmitted disease and they continue to have it (and) it's not being treated, they may infect others," said Dr. David Roberts, of MetroHealth Medical Center.

Roberts, a pediatrician, said some teens might not even show up at the doctor if they fear their parents will learn the details.

"From the standpoint of a child's well-being, you do want them to be treated if they have a condition," he said.

Still, it's awkward for parents to realize that the doctor may know things about their child that they don't. That's why Roberts said it's important to open the lines of communication with children early about sexual issues.

"We recommend that even at the 8- and 9-year-old visits to start having parents talk to their children about what's out there," Roberts said. "Kids hear things, unfortunately (in the) second, third (and) fourth grade."

When children become teenagers, parents might want to let their kids know they understand they would prefer to talk with the pediatrician alone. But it's also a good idea for parents to make sure they trust the particular doctor with their child's health.

"We prefer, as providers, that the parents and child agree," Roberts said.

"It doesn't threaten me now," said Evelyn Hoff, Christina's mother. "It did in the beginning when she was 13 and I thought we had this incredibly fantastic relationship, and then I realized that maybe she was sharing things with her doctor that she wasn't sharing with me."

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