Hearing loss statistics provided by Better Hearing Institute
More than 31.5 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss- approximately one in 10 individuals. It may reach 44 million by 2030
Among Americans ages 46 to 64, about 15 percent already have hearing problems, according to a survey by the Better Hearing Institute.
Two out of three people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
Sixty percent of people with hearing loss are male.
One in five people who could benefit from hearing devices currently wear them.
Hearing instruments are the necessary treatment for 90 to 95 percent of people with hearing loss.
Only 12 percent of physicians today ask patient if they have any hearing problems.
Hearing loss leads to stress and fatigue because it requires so much effort to listen to what someone is saying – particularly in a noisy setting.
The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) reported that hearing loss in older persons can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life. In the NCOA’s survey of 2,300 hearing-impaired adults, age 50 or older, those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and paranoia and less likely to participate in organized activities, compared to those who wore hearing aids.
People with untreated hearing loss make, on average, up to $12,000 per year less than their counterparts who have treated their hearing loss with hearing aids. Wearing hearing aids mitigates the loss in earning about 50 percent.
Advances in digital technology have dramatically improved hearing aids – they are smaller than ever with far better sound quality.
Top-of-the-line models feature “directional” or “high definition” hearing. These devices use two microphones and an algorithm to enhance speech coming from the front (the person you are talking to), while turning down sounds coming from behind (the rest of the noisy room).
The creation of devices using Bluetooth communication technology can turn select hearing aids into wireless, hands-free headsets. For example, Bluetooth enabled hearing aids may be compatible with Bluetooth cells phones.
Nine out of ten hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life, according to a survey by the Better Hearing Institute of more than 2,300 consumers.
The Effects of Hearing Loss
There have been many studies which show the negative effects of untreated hearing loss. These negative effects can result in issues that impact a person’s social, psychological and physical health, leading to isolation and withdrawal which can seriously impact their personal and professional lives.
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to:
- Anger
- Irritability
- Tension
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Depression
- Withdrawal from friends or family
- Social avoidance
- Loneliness
- Reduced awareness
- Increased risk to personal safety
- Impaired memory
- Reduced job performance and earning power
- Overall diminished psychological and physical health
|
