Amanda G. Smith, AuD, F-AAA Doctor of Audiology - Lakeside ...

Facts About Hearing Loss
(www.hearpo.com/factsAboutHearingLoss.asp)
• Hearing loss is the number one disability in the world,
however it is the most preventable disability as well.
• Causes of hearing loss:
• Noise: 33.7%
• Infection or injury: 17.1%
• Age: 28%
• Birth: 4.4%
• One out of every ten Americans (approximately 28
million) have hearing loss. This number is expected to
rapidly climb and nearly double by the year 2030.
• Hearing loss is greater in men.
• Among seniors, hearing loss is the third most prevalent
but treatable disabling condition behind arthritis
and hypertension.
• The hearing aid is the second most widely used
assistive technological device after the walking cane.
• 95% of Americans with hearing loss could be
successfully treated with hearing aids.
• Of those who have some degree of hearing loss, about
one-third has damaged their hearing from excessive
exposure to sound.
• 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous noise
levels each day.
• Percentage of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame who are hearing-impaired: 60%
• Every seven seconds, a baby boomer turns 50 and will
likely have some degree of hearing loss.
• As a result of the aging population, between 1990 and
2050 the number of hearing-impaired Americans will
increase at a faster rate than the total U.S. population.