"Hearing loss affects only 'old people' and it is merely a sign of aging"
Contrary to what most people think, the majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groups.
"If I had hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me."
Not True! Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor's office, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training, and understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be difficult for your doctor to even realize that you have a hearing problem.
Many people are aware that their hearing has deteriorated but are reluctant to seek help. Perhaps they don't want to acknowledge the problem, are embarrassed by what they see as a weakness, or believe that they can "get by" without using a hearing aid. Unfortunately, too many wait years, even decades, before getting treatment.
Hearing loss is not just an ailment of old age. It can strike at any time and any age, even childhood. For the young, even a mild or moderate case of hearing loss could bring difficulty learning, developing speech, and building the important interpersonal skills necessary to foster self-esteem and succeed in school and life.
Hearing Loss Facts
Here are some general guidelines regarding the incidence of hearing loss:
- 3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss
- 1 in 6 baby boomers (age 41-59), or 15%, have hearing problems
- 1 in 14 Generation Xers (ages 29-40), or 7%, already have hearing loss
- At least 1.4 million children (18 or younger) have hearing problems
- 3 in 1,000 infants are born with serious to profound hearing loss
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