The number of people experiencing hearing loss doubled in the United States from 2000 to 2015. Currently, it is currently considered to be the second most common global health issue. There are, for example, more people living with hearing loss than with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s combined.
While some people seek help for their hearing loss, others seem to avoid altogether. It is not uncommon for some individuals to wait up to 7 years prior to seeking assistance. Current figures show that there are approximately 15 million Americans avoiding the assistance that could be provided with hearing aids and other types of intervention.
Even though hearing loss can occur with age, it is often associated with being subjected to consistent noise. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), there are approximately 26 million people in the United States that have high-frequency hearing loss. The NIDCD indicates that for individuals between 20 and 69, this was usually caused by a consistent exposure to noise while at work or engaged in other activities.
Many children are born with hearing loss in one or both ears. While the severity of this does vary, recent figures show that 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with some level of hearing loss. As these children begin school, even a mild loss of hearing can adversely affect their educational experience.
Studies show that children with some level of hearing loss can miss up to 50% of their classroom discussions. Since these discussions tend to include instructions for classroom activities and homework, children that experience untreated hearing issues are at a great disadvantage.
It’s also been found that for every 5 teenagers, 1 is experiencing a loss of hearing. This can greatly impact their educational success, which includes their college plans and a successful, fulfilling career.
Hearing loss does often increase with age. While 1 in every 5 adults may be experiencing this at some level, it can potentially increase once they are over 65. It’s been found that for individuals over 65, 1 out of 3 have some loss of hearing.
When adults reach 70 and older, many may experience hearing loss for the first time. If they had hearing issues prior to this, it’s possible that their ability to hear may be further reduced. While only 30% of these individuals claim to have used hearing aids, it’s quite likely they would benefit from using them.
If the cost of hearing aids appears to be prohibitive, there are affordable digital hearing aids available. The only other costs associated with these are hearing aid batteries.
While each individual will have their own reason for avoiding a visit to a hearing consultant, it’s important to do so as soon as possible. When someone is hard of hearing, having an assistive listening device can potentially make a significant impact on the quality of their daily life.