Hearing loss in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts

Hearing loss is the partial or total inability to hear. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent and can be sudden or develop gradually over time. Degrees of hearing loss can range from mild or moderate to severe or profound. As of 2019, roughly 430 million people worldwide suffered from disabling hearing loss and this is projected to rise to 711 million by 2050.

Hearing loss demographics

In children, hearing problems may affect the ability to learn spoken language and, in the U.S., testing for poor hearing is typically recommended for all newborns. Adult hearing loss can be associated with age, sex, race or ethnicity, as well as educational level. Among adults who have hearing difficulties despite wearing hearing aids, the rates increase with age. Hearing difficulty rates also differ by ethnicity, and non-Hispanic White adults are more likely to experience trouble hearing. Being male is another risk factor as men are more likely than women to experience hearing problems.

Causes of hearing loss

Hearing loss may be hereditary, part of the aging process or be triggered by over-exposure to excessive noise. Other factors that induce hearing loss may include birth complications, viral or bacterial infections, injury and physical trauma to the ear or head, as well as the negative effects of certain medications or toxins. A survey on U.S. military veterans with service-related injury found that 56 percent had hearing loss and 66 percent had tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. Moreover, sometimes veterans will have trouble understanding speech despite scoring normally on a hearing test. This is another condition associated with blast exposure called auditory processing disorder.

Hearing loss treatment

Hearing aids, surgical treatments (such as a cochlear implant), and other assistive devices are used to improve the ability to hear when hearing loss occurs. However despite the availability of hearing aids, only 7.1 percent of those aged 45 and older with hearing difficulties use a hearing aid. Cost-related reasons are most commonly given as to why those with untreated hearing difficulties do not get help. Untreated hearing problems can have unforeseen consequences not just on a person's quality of life but also on their cognitive function. Johns Hopkins experts warn that mild hearing loss can double a person's dementia risk. Moderate loss can triple the risk, and people with severe hearing impairment are five-times more likely to develop dementia. Hearing tests should be conducted regularly among older adults to address this, especially when hearing problems are often not seen as an urgent issue and over half of adults with hearing difficulties have not discussed it with a professional.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Country with highest number of people with disabling hearing loss: India

Number of people with disabling hearing loss worldwide by 2030: 0.5 billion

Number of people with disabling hearing loss in high-income countries by 2030: 58 million

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Distribution of injuries among U.S. military veterans with service-related injuries in the U.S. in 2021

State of Health

Service-related injuries among military veterans U.S. 2021

Number of 3 to 21 year olds with hearing impairments served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States from 1990/91 to 2020/21 (in 1,000s)

Education & Science

Number of 3 to 21 year olds with hearing impairments, U.S. 1990-2021

Percentage of U.S. mental health treatment facilities offering treatment services for the hearing impaired in 2020, by region

Health Professionals & Hospitals

Share of mental health facilities with treatment for hearing impaired U.S. 2020

Recommended statistics

Global overview

Basic Statistic Number of people with hearing loss worldwide in 2019, 2030, 2040, and 2050
Number of people with hearing loss worldwide in 2019, 2030, 2040, and 2050
Projected number of people with disabling hearing loss worldwide in 2019, 2030, 2040, and 2050 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Number of people with hearing loss worldwide in 2018, 2030, and 2050, by region
Number of people with hearing loss worldwide in 2018, 2030, and 2050, by region
Projected number of people with disabling hearing loss worldwide in 2018, 2030, and 2050, by region (in millions)
Basic Statistic Number of people with hearing loss in select countries worldwide in 2008 and 2018
Number of people with hearing loss in select countries worldwide in 2008 and 2018
Number of people with disabling hearing loss in select countries worldwide in 2008 and 2018 (in millions)
Basic Statistic Number of people with hearing loss worldwide as of 2019, by severity
Number of people with hearing loss worldwide as of 2019, by severity
Number of people with hearing loss worldwide as of 2019, by degree of hearing loss (in millions)
Basic Statistic Global hearing aids market share by distribution channel 2018
Global hearing aids market share by distribution channel 2018
Global hearing aids market share in 2018, by distribution channel
Basic Statistic Global hearing aid market share by company 2019
Global hearing aid market share by company 2019
Distribution of the global hearing aid market as of 2019, by company

U.S. overview

Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who described their hearing health as good or poor as of 2021
Share of U.S. adults who described their hearing health as good or poor as of 2021
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated their hearing was good or poor as of 2021
Basic Statistic Reasons U.S. adults with untreated hearing trouble did not get treatment as of 2021
Reasons U.S. adults with untreated hearing trouble did not get treatment as of 2021
Percentage of adults in the United States with untreated hearing difficulties who gave select reasons for not getting help with their hearing as of 2021
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults with hearing trouble who face select challenges as of 2021
Share of U.S. adults with hearing trouble who face select challenges as of 2021
Percentage of adults in the United States with hearing difficulties who stated they face select challenges as of 2021
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who discussed their hearing problem with a professional, 2021
Share of U.S. adults who discussed their hearing problem with a professional, 2021
Percentage of adults in the United States with hearing difficulties who discussed it with select professionals as of 2021
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who used some form of hearing aid as of 2021
Share of U.S. adults who used some form of hearing aid as of 2021
Percentage of adults in the United States who used hearing aids or other forms of hearing assistive technology as of 2021

Hearing loss demographics

Premium Statistic Number of 3 to 21 year olds with hearing impairments, U.S. 1990-2021
Number of 3 to 21 year olds with hearing impairments, U.S. 1990-2021
Number of 3 to 21 year olds with hearing impairments served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States from 1990/91 to 2020/21 (in 1,000s)
Basic Statistic Hearing difficulties even with a hearing aid among adults in the U.S. in 2019, by age
Hearing difficulties even with a hearing aid among adults in the U.S. in 2019, by age
Percentage of adults with difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid in the U.S. in 2019, by age group
Basic Statistic Hearing difficulties with hearing aid among adults over 45 years U.S. 2019, by gender
Hearing difficulties with hearing aid among adults over 45 years U.S. 2019, by gender
Percentage of adults aged 45 years and older with difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid in the U.S. in 2019, by gender
Premium Statistic Hearing problems among middle-aged adults with hearing aids U.S. 2019, by ethnicity
Hearing problems among middle-aged adults with hearing aids U.S. 2019, by ethnicity
Percentage of adults aged 45 to 64 years with difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid in the U.S. in 2019, by ethnicity
Basic Statistic Hearing problems among older adults with hearing aids U.S. 2019, by ethnicity
Hearing problems among older adults with hearing aids U.S. 2019, by ethnicity
Percentage of adults aged 65 years and older with difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid in the U.S. in 2019, by ethnicity
Basic Statistic Middle-aged and older adults with hearing aids in the U.S. in 2019, by gender
Middle-aged and older adults with hearing aids in the U.S. in 2019, by gender
Percentage of adults aged 45 years and older who used a hearing aid in the U.S. in 2019, by gender
Basic Statistic Share of people with a hearing disability in the U.S. as of 2019, by age
Share of people with a hearing disability in the U.S. as of 2019, by age
Percentage of people in the U.S. with a hearing disability as of 2019, by age
Premium Statistic Share of people in the U.S. with a hearing disability as of 2020, by state
Share of people in the U.S. with a hearing disability as of 2020, by state
Percentage of people in the U.S. with a hearing disability as of 2020, by state

Professionals

Basic Statistic Number of audiologists in U.S. 2012-2021
Number of audiologists in U.S. 2012-2021
Number of audiologists in the United States from 2012 to 2021
Basic Statistic Number of hearing aid specialists in U.S. 2012-2021
Number of hearing aid specialists in U.S. 2012-2021
Number of hearing aid specialists in the United States from 2012 to 2021
Basic Statistic Important factors for U.S. audiologists when selecting patient's hearing aids 2018
Important factors for U.S. audiologists when selecting patient's hearing aids 2018
Most important attributes for U.S. audiologists when selecting a hearing aid for patients as of 2018
Basic Statistic Most prescribed hearing aid brands or manufacturers among U.S. audiologists 2018
Most prescribed hearing aid brands or manufacturers among U.S. audiologists 2018
Hearing aid brands most often dispensed or prescribed by audiologists in the U.S. as of 2018

Miscellaneous

Premium Statistic Service-related injuries among military veterans U.S. 2021
Service-related injuries among military veterans U.S. 2021
Distribution of injuries among U.S. military veterans with service-related injuries in the U.S. in 2021
Premium Statistic Share of mental health facilities with treatment for hearing impaired U.S. 2020
Share of mental health facilities with treatment for hearing impaired U.S. 2020
Percentage of U.S. mental health treatment facilities offering treatment services for the hearing impaired in 2020, by region
Premium Statistic Annual change in U.S. hearing aid sales 2007-2021
Annual change in U.S. hearing aid sales 2007-2021
Annual change in U.S. hearing aid sales from 2007 to 2021
Premium Statistic Use of various hearing aids by market share in U.S. 2021
Use of various hearing aids by market share in U.S. 2021
Distribution of hearing aid styles in the U.S. by market share in 2021

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