Do you have a loved one that really needs a hearing aid (or at least a hearing test) but is resistant to your advice? People often avoid seeking help for hearing problems, but chatting with them about the causes, effects and prevalence of hearing loss may help. Listed below are some facts and stats to help you make your case (and may surprise you too):
- Over the past 30 years, the number of Americans with hearing loss has approximately doubled.
- Approximately 36 million people in the US have some form of hearing loss, which is almost one out of every 5 people.
- Women are less likely to develop hearing problems than men.
- Roughly 13% of the population over age 65 will experience tinnitus – ringing in the ears.
- Ten million people have permanent hearing loss due to noise, and 30 million more people are exposed to harmful noise levels every day.
- More people could benefit from a hearing aid than actually wear one. Some estimates claim there are four additional people who could benefit, for every 1 actually using a hearing aid.
- Around 13,000 adults and 10,000 children in the United States have cochlear implants.
- High frequency hearing loss caused by regular loud noise exposure affects about 26 million people in the US (ages 20-69). This consists of repeated noise exposure from both work and recreational sources.
- Those with hearing loss wait an average of approximately 10 years before doing anything about it. Does that describe you or someone you love?