Are you searching for some basic facts and data to finally get a family member or friend to have a hearing test or be fitted for a hearing aid? Talking over some of the data related to the prevalence, causes and effects of hearing problems may finally get them to make that first appointment. Listed below are some basic facts and statistics to help you make your case:
- Over the past 30 years, the number of Americans with hearing loss has roughly doubled.
- Women are less likely to have hearing problems than men.
- Approximately 36 million individuals the United States have some form of hearing loss, which is almost one out of every five people.
- Roughly 13% of the population over age 65 will experience tinnitus – ringing in the ears.
- One million Americans have tinnitus that is so serious it gets in the way of daily life.
- Of the people who could benefit from using a hearing aid, just one out of 5 people wears one.
- Noise is a major contributing factor to hearing loss. Noise has already caused irreversible hearing loss for 10 million people. Another 30 million people are exposed to unsafe levels each and every day.
- High frequency hearing loss caused by recurring loud noise exposure impacts about 26 million people in the United States (ages 20-69). This consists of regular noise exposure from both work and recreational sources.
- Those with hearing loss delay roughly a whole decade – ten years – before taking any action. Don’t let this be you!