Do you have a loved one that needs a hearing aid (or at least a hearing test) but is resistant to your suggestions? It is very common for people to resist seeking help for hearing loss, but chatting with them about the causes, effects and prevalence of hearing problems can help. Below are some facts and stats to help you make your case (and shock you too):
- Women are less likely to have hearing loss than men.
- Over the past 3 decades, the number of Americans with hearing loss has approximately doubled.
- Nearly one of of every 5 individuals in the United States have some type of hearing loss – that is 36 million people!
- Of those aged 65 and older, an average of 13% experience tinnitus – a ringing in the ears.
- Of the 12 million Americans with tinnitus, one million have it so badly that it interferes with everyday activities.
- Many more people could benefit from a hearing aid than actually wear one. Some estimates say there are 4 additional people who could benefit, for every 1 actually using a hearing aid.
- Ten million people have permanent loss of hearing due to noise, and 30 million more are exposed to harmful levels of noise every day.
- Hearing loss classification studies report that 5% of cases are severe, 30% moderate and 65% are classified as mild.
- Approximately 26 million Americans aged between 20 and 69 are afflicted with high frequency hearing loss due to repeated exposure to loud noise either at work or during leisure activities.
- Around 13,000 adults and 10,000 children in the US have cochlear implants.
- People with hearing loss delay roughly a whole decade – ten years – before addressing the issue. Don’t let this be you!