Important Hearing Loss Statistics

Statistics are a tool for understanding the world. They help us make decisions and give us an idea of what is expected and what is not.

You might have already read a lot of figures about hearing loss, but what do they really mean? We offer some discussion around these numbers that will hopefully help you understand the scope of the hearing loss problem, whether in the States or worldwide.

Hearing Loss in Children

• Almost 6,000 U.S. infants born in 2019 were identified early with a permanent hearing loss. (CDC)
• Genes are responsible for hearing loss among 50% to 60% of children with hearing loss. (CDC)
• Seventy-five percent of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

Hearing loss can make it hard for a child to learn to talk, understand language, and get along with other people. To keep speech and language development from worsening, finding and treating hearing loss as soon as possible is essential. When a deaf or hard-of-hearing child gets early help, their speech, language, and social skills are more likely to reach their full potential.

Hearing Loss In Adults Under 65

• Over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. (World Health Organization)
• Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million Americans, has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year. (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD))

There is a prevailing myth that hearing loss only affects older adults. While it is true that the signs of hearing loss may increase with age, it is not true only older adults experience hearing loss. Gen X, Millennials, and even Gen Z are also at risk for hearing loss.

In these age cohorts, hearing loss is often caused by exposure to dangerously loud noises, whether from entertainment venues or the overuse of personal listening devices. Many are unaware that hearing loss seriously affects their health, school performance, and relationships.

Hearing Loss In Older Adults

• Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. (National Institute of Aging)
• Hearing difficulties increased with age, with 26.8% of those aged 65 and over having some difficulty and 4.1% having a lot of difficulties or could not hear at all. (CDC)

There's no hiding the fact that older adults are the age group at the most risk of developing hearing loss. Presbycusis, commonly known as age-related hearing loss, affects millions of seniors. Age-related hearing loss may occur as part of the natural aging process, where the cells in your ear are slowly damaged or destroyed due to the normal wear and tear of a lifetime of hearing.

Occupational Hearing Loss

• Twenty-two million Americans—or about 22 percent— are exposed to hazardous noise levels in the workplace. (HLAA)
• An estimated 24% of hearing loss in the United States has been attributed to workplace exposure. (CDC)

Work may be a loud place sometimes, mainly if you work in specific sectors. While you may grumble about it to your coworkers, it may already be harming your hearing. If your employment needs you to be exposed to loud noise frequently, be sure you are following your employer's protective earwear guidelines. If your company does not supply specialized ear protection, you might consider purchasing your own and learning more about federal workplace noise regulations.

Hearing Loss In Veterans

• Hearing issues are the most common service-connected disability among American veterans. (HLAA)
• In 2020, more than 1.3 million Veterans were receiving disability compensation for hearing loss. (U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs)
• More than 2.3 million received compensation for tinnitus (U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs)

Military personnel are still some of the most at-risk Americans regarding hearing loss. Serving in missions like the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan exposed veterans to loud blasts and heavy gunfire. These loud noises can cause instant damage to the ear and the brain's regions responsible for hearing. This noise-induced hearing loss can be instant and severe since, at these noise levels, all it takes is one explosion to do permanent damage.

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Hearing Loss Treatment

• People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help. (HLAA)
• Only 1 in 5 people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one. (HLAA)

When we first sense that hearing loss might become a problem, some people rush to get treatment as soon as possible, eager to restore their ability to communicate and fully reconnect with the world. Others are hesitant to seek treatment for several personal reasons and would rather deny that hearing loss is a problem.

But don't discount the sense of reconnection that comes with a well-fitted pair of hearing aids. Hearing aids are also reported to make people feel more independent and able to move through the world with confidence.

With these many benefits in mind, why not take the first step toward assistance with a hearing test? The test itself is painless, brief, and easy to complete. With those results in hand, we can make a thorough diagnosis and recommend the correct type of hearing aid for your needs. Contact us at Greentree Hearing and Audiology today for a consultation.