Patient Resources

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.

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