Hearing Loss Statistics At A Glance – Audiology Associates

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition behind arthritis and heart disease, affecting people of all ages. It is especially common among older adults and veterans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): 
• About 48 million (or 14%) of Americans report some degree of hearing loss.
• Put another way, one of out of 5 men and one of out of 8 women report they have at least some trouble hearing.
• The prevalence of hearing loss is twice as common as diabetes or cancer.
It’s well known that hearing loss is more common among older adults.
• A 2023 survey found that nearly two-thirds of adults 71 and older had hearing loss. By age 90, nearly everyone (96.2%) had hearing loss.
• The same survey found that only 29.2% of those with hearing loss used hearing aids.
Noise-induced hearing loss
One of the most common ways people damage their hearing is through excessive noise exposure, leading to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). About one out of every five workers is exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace.
• About 40 million US adults aged 20-69 years have noise-induced hearing loss.
• More than 1 in 2 US adults with hearing damage from noise do not have noisy jobs, meaning the exposure is likely recreational.
Stats on hearing loss in children
• 15% of school-age children (6-19) have some degree of hearing loss. About 20% of teens do.
• An estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise. 
• Even a mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss 50 percent of classroom instruction.
How many people wear hearing aids?
• Satisfaction with hearing instruments increases with each survey. In 2022, 83% of survey respondents were satisfied with their hearing aids.
• The average age of a person buying hearing aids is 60.
• Nine out of ten people who wear hearing aids report “high satisfaction” with their hearing care providers (audiologists and hearing instrument specialists).
• People wait about four years from the start of hearing difficulties to getting their first hearing aid, a time gap that has gotten shorter (it used to be six).
• Stigma has decreased over time. Compared to older surveys, far fewer people report feeling embarrassed or rejected due to their hearing aids.
The 2022 survey also found that those with hearing difficulty have higher rates of many common conditions and are over 3.5 times more likely to have tinnitus, cognition/memory issues, and falling and balance issues. People who don›t wear hearing aids are at a greater risk of depression that increases with severity of hearing difficulty.
For all these reasons, hearing aids are good for your health and your mind. If you or your loved one falls into any of the above categories, please call our office at 661.284.1900. Audiology Associates is here to help! Dr Kevin Bolder and Dr John Davis are two of the best in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley’s. Visit us at www.AudiologyAssociates.net or stop by at 25425 Orchard Village Road, Ste 220, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
We are Hearing Healthcare Excellence!