Facts About Hearing Disorders
Who has hearing loss
Approximately 28 million people in the U.S. alone,
or about 10% of its population, have significant hearing loss;
and 120 million people worldwide have this same problem. More
than 30% of people over 65 have some type of hearing loss, and
14% of the population between ages 45 and 64 have hearing loss.
Close to 8 million people between the ages of 18 and 44 and 7
million children have hearing loss. Sensorineural damage,
often referred to as nerve deafness, is the most common form
of hearing loss.
Why most
hearing disorders are left untreated
Hearing aids can offer dramatic
improvements for approximately 95% of hearing losses. Unfortunately,
many hearing disorders are left untreated because:
- Only 16% of
physicians routinely screen for hearing loss.
- Prejudice and embarrassment
from experiencing hearing loss prevent close to 15 million
from getting help.
- An estimated 7 million cannot afford hearing aids.
Most
common hearing disorders
- Otitis media (ear infection) the most common cause
of temporary hearing loss, affects 70% of all infants and young
children.
- Presbycusis is
a high frequency hearing loss that occurs with advancing age.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) affects 50 million
people. For 12 million people, tinnitus is so severe that they
are incapacitated. Almost 70% of those who have tinnitus also
have hearing loss.
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Types of hearing loss
Additional information about hearing aids
