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Hear. Live. Now.

Hearing Loss Facts

Patient Resources Facts don’t lie. You are not alone!

  • An estimated 16% (1.1 billion people) of the world’s population is affected by hearing loss.
  • Approximately 30 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss.
  • Hearing loss can happen at any age to anyone.
  • Approximately 1/3 of those affected by hearing loss are of retirement age.
  • The majority of individuals experiencing hearing loss are of working or school-going age.
  • An estimated four out of five adults, over the age of 55, have hearing problems that can be improved by a clinical audiologist.
  • Studies show 65% of individuals with hearing impairment experience mild hearing loss, 30% moderate, and 5% severe or profound hearing loss.
  • Only 1 in 5 people who would benefit from wearing a hearing device actually use one.

COMMON SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS

The average person waits 5 to 7 years between first experiencing hearing loss symptoms and pursuing treatment.

  • Asking people to repeat themselves
  • Turning up the TV or radio to a volume others find too loud
  • Having trouble understanding conversations in noisy environments
  • Thinking people mumble their words
  • Having trouble understanding women’s and children’s voices
  • Difficulty hearing on the telephone
  • Feeling more depressed or irritable
  • Avoiding social situations
  • Struggling to follow fast-moving conversations
  • Missing critical information in meetings or at work
  • Being told by family or friends that you have a hearing loss

HEARING LOSS & HEALTHY LIVING

Untreated hearing loss is a major health issue.

  • Hearing impairment in older adults may lead to a shorter lifespan than their peers without hearing issues.
  • There is a significant association between untreated hearing loss and high blood pressure.
  • Adults with hearing impairment experience a 30-40% faster decline in cognitive abilities compared to their peers without hearing loss.
  • 360+ million of the world’s population have disabling hearing loss.
  • Adults with untreated hearing problems were more likely to note depression, anxiety and paranoia than peers who wore hearing aids.
  • Individuals 18 to 69-years old experienced significantly higher instances of moderate-to-severe depression when suffering with untreated hearing loss.
  • Adults with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia.