Far too frequently, we hear people state that hearing loss only impacts “old people,” that it’s just part of getting old, or that it’s generally an uncommon ailment.
These comments couldn’t be further from the facts.
Here are statistics you should know about:
Prevalence of hearing loss in the United States
Hearing loss, to some extent, affects 20 percent of all Americans, or 48 million people, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. If everyone with hearing loss in the US resided in the same state, its population would be larger than the whole state of California by 10 million people.
1 out of every 5 people in the US has some kind of hearing loss, even if that hearing loss is unknown and untreated. Which means, the probability that you know someone with hearing loss or have hearing loss yourself is, unfortunately, very high.
Additionally, from 2000 to 2015, the number of Americans with hearing loss has doubled, and globally the number is up by 44 percent. This makes hearing loss the second most widespread health disorder around the globe. This truth is, those living with hearing loss outnumber those living with Parkinson’s, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes combined.
Hearing loss by age group
Even if 1 out of 5 people in the US has some degree of hearing loss, we’re still only talking about older people, right?
This is a prevalent myth, but the reply is an uncontestable no.
According to the Better Hearing Institute, of the 48 million Americans with hearing loss, only about 35 percent are 65 years of age or older. Well over 30 million Americans under the age of 65 suffer from hearing loss. Of those:
- 1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59) have some kind of hearing loss.
- 1 in 14 Generation Xers (ages 29-40) already have hearing loss.
- 1.4 million children (18 or younger) have hearing issues.
- 2-3 out of 1,000 infants are born with a detectable amount of hearing loss in one or both ears.
While hearing loss is typical throughout all age brackets, the extent of hearing loss does tend to increase with age. Whereas only around 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss, the rate rises to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64, about 25 percent for adults aged 65 to 74, and about 50 percent for adults aged 75 and older.
The causes of hearing loss
Hearing loss is exceedingly prevalent (both in the US and across the globe), impacts all age groups, and has become more widespread over time. What’s the cause behind all of this?
There are several causes, but the two primary causes of hearing loss are direct exposure to loud sound and the aging process.
Regarding sound exposure, the NIDCD estimates that roughly 15 percent of Americans (26 million people) between the ages of 20 and 69 suffer from hearing loss as a consequence of exposure to loud sounds on the job or during leisure activities.
The World Health Organization has also reported that 1.1 billion teens and young adults across the globe are at an increased risk of developing hearing loss from the use of personal music players played at high volumes.
When it comes to aging, the population of those aged 65 years and older is expanding, and hearing loss is more common among this group.
Can hearing aids help?
The best defense against hearing loss is protecting your ears. Keeping away from loud noise, increasing your distance between the sources of loud noise, and wearing personalized ear protection are three strategies that can salvage your hearing.
But what if you currently suffer from hearing loss?
Fortunately, due to the advances in technology and hearing health care, virtually all cases of hearing loss can be treated. And compared with the hearing aids of 10-15 years ago, today’s hearing aids have proven to be effective.
A current study by the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that hearing aids (three prominent models examined) are in fact generally effective, concluding that “each [hearing aid] circuit provided significant benefit in quiet and noisy listening situations.”
Patients have also noticed the benefits: The National Center for Biotechnology Information, after analyzing many years of research, concluded that “studies have shown that users are quite satisfied with their hearing aids.”
Similarly, a recent MarkeTrak consumer satisfaction survey found that, for consumers with hearing aids four years of age or less, 78.6% were satisfied with their hearing aid performance.
The statistics speak for themselves, and your chances of acquiring hearing loss are unfortunately quite high. But the statistics also show that, even in the event that you currently have hearing loss, the chances are very good that you’ll benefit greatly from wearing hearing aids.
Whether you are looking for tailor made ear protection to avoid hearing loss or a new set of hearing aids to amplify the hearing you’ve already lost, we can help. We have experience with all types of hearing loss and can help find the ideal solution for you.