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Hearing loss facts and statistics
If you have a hearing loss, you are not alone. Hearing loss is a much more common condition than you might think.

Global statistics on hearing loss

  • Hearing loss affects more than 360 million people worldwide, that’s over 5% of world’s population*
  •  By 2025 there will be 900 million people in the world living with hearing loss
  • Every 10th person in the United States has a hearing loss – that’s over 31,000,000 people
  • There are more than 200,000 new cases of hearing loss per year in US alone
  • Twenty nine percent of people over age 65 have a hearing loss
  • One in six people between the ages of 41-59 has some degree of hearing loss
  • Every 6th baby boomer (ages 41-59) has hearing loss
  • Sixty five percent of people with hearing loss are below the retirement age
  • 1.1 billion young people (ages 12-35 years) are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to noise in recreational settings
 

Surprising facts about hearing loss

  • We hear with our brain, not with our ears. When we have a hearing loss, the connections in the brain that respond to sound get disorganized
  • Hearing loss can occur at any time in life
  • Noise-induced hearing loss is the most prevalent type of hearing loss, followed by age-related hearing loss
  • 4 out of 5 people who experience ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus,  will likely have some degree of hearing loss
  • Hearing loss can frequently co-exist with other health conditions, such as dementia, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular diseases
  • Unaddressed hearing loss can lead to social isolation, anxiety and even depression,  as well as poorer overall health
  • Eight out of 10 hearing aid users say they’re satisfied with the changes that have occurred in their lives specifically due to their hearing aids.**

* World Health Organization 
**Better Hearing Institute

Take the first step toward better hearing
Hearing loss is a health issue that may require medical attention, so it is important not to ignore it. If you suspect or have been diagnosed with hearing loss, accepting hearing loss and taking action early can dramatically improve your quality of life. Schedule a free hearing screening with your nearest Beltone hearing care professional as soon as possible.
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