The Prevalence and Incidence of Hearing Loss in Adults

• About 28 million people in the U.S. have some degree of reduced hearing sensitivity. Of this number, 80% have irreversible hearing loss.
  (Better Hearing Institute [1999]. Facts about hearing disorders. Retrieved 2000)

• 4.6% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 44 years have hearing loss.

• 14% of individuals between the ages of 45 and 64 years have hearing loss.

• 54 % of the population over age 65 has hearing loss.

• 23 % of individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 years have hearing loss.

• 31% of the population over the age of 75 years have hearing loss.
  (Benson, V., & Marano, M.A. [1998, October). Current estimates from the National Health Interview Survey , 1995. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10 [199].)

• Hearing loss is the 3 rd most prevalent chronic condition in the older population. (NIDCD, 1989)
  National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Back to Learning Main Site