How well do you know the facts about hearing loss?
We’ve discovered that our patients are virtually always surprised to learn about hearing loss, about how prevalent it is and how it affects all age groups. They’re also quite surprised to learn how hearing loss can affect all areas of health.
As hearing professionals, that means we have a great deal of work to do. Certainly, the understanding of hearing loss does not match the reality, and we have to work to raise awareness.
To that end, we’ve put together ten facts that indicate how serious and widespread hearing loss is, but that the majority of people are not aware of.
Here they are:
- 360 million people worldwide have hearing loss – as reported by the World Health Organization, more than 5 percent of the world’s population (360 million) have disabling hearing loss.
- 48 million people in the United States have hearing loss – that’s 20 percent of all Americans, or one out of every five, that describe some extent of hearing loss.
- 1 in 5 teenagers has hearing loss – hearing loss in teens is increasing with the increased use of earbuds, among other factors. Hearing loss does not discriminate by age.
- 65 percent of those with hearing loss are under age 65 – the idea that hearing loss only influences old people is one of the most widespread and erroneous myths about hearing loss.
- 60 percent of veterans return home with hearing loss and tinnitus – hearing problems are the most frequently documented injury by veterans. Hearing loss is also one of the most prevalent work-related injuries, affecting an estimated 22 million workers in the US.
- Hearing loss can bring about cognitive decline – several studies out of Johns Hopkins University have confirmed links between hearing loss and cognitive decline, impaired memory, and even an enhanced risk of developing dementia.
- Hearing loss increases the risk of falling – a recent study revealed that individuals with mild hearing loss were three times more likely to have a history of falling as compared to those with normal hearing. And the likelihood of falling increase as hearing loss becomes more significant.
- Hearing loss is present in 90 percent of tinnitus cases – most cases of tinnitus are associated with hearing loss, which means both conditions can oftentimes be remedied with hearing aids.
- Hearing loss can impact earnings – In a survey carried out by the Better Hearing Institute, hearing loss was found to negatively impact household income up to an average of $12,000 per year depending on the level of hearing loss.
- 28.8 million US adults could benefit from hearing aids – despite the fact that hearing aids could help millions of Americans, fewer than one in three actually use them. This even with all of the technological advances.
Help us boost awareness about the facts of hearing loss by sharing this blog post. You may end up encouraging someone to enhance their life with better hearing.