Hearing loss in the elderly isn’t just an issue of not being able to hear the birds chirp or the phone ring. Impaired driving, dementia and falls have all been associated with decreased hearing ability in older adults.
Below are a few statistics based on hearing loss in the elderly to take into consideration:
- According to the American Academy of Audiology, hearing impairment is the third most commonly reported chronic problem affecting the aged population. More than 7 million aged persons suffer from some degree of hearing impairment.
- Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
- Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them.
- There are 164.5 million persons of above 65 years with disabling hearing loss, i.e. 33% of the world’s population above 65 years. World Health Organization (WHO).
- The prevalence of disabling hearing loss in persons above 65 years is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, and South Asia.
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