Hearing Facts

Although alarming, the statistics below are very real and very now.  Unfortunately these numbers are rapidly growing.  We at ClearSounds have a team of research and development experts dedicated to engineering new products to address the growing number of individuals with hearing loss.  

• More than 28 million Americans have a hearing loss.  

• More than 9 million Americans over the age of 65 have hearing loss.  

• More than 10 million middle-aged Americans (between the ages of 45-65) have hearing loss.

• More than 1/3 of the U.S. population experiences hearing loss by the age 65.

• Approximately 2 million people are profoundly deaf.  

• One out of every 1,000 infants are born totally deaf.  

• One out of every 22 infants have hearing problems.  

• Sensorneural damage (damage to the hair cells and cochlea caused by genetics or exposure to noise) is the largest, single form of hearing loss affecting 17 million Americans.  

• Adults age 50 or older who experience untreated hearing loss are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and paranoia and less likely to participate in organized hearing events.  

• Between 1990 and 2050, the number of people with hearing and speech impairments will increase at a faster rate than the total U.S. population, as a direct result of the aging of the U.S. population.  

• Many who could benefit from available help do not get it.  An estimated 8 million cannot afford hearing aids, and hearing loss stigma keeps close to 9 million others from getting help.  Others are unaware that they have a problem or do not know about available help; unfortunately, only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss.

Statistics compiled by:
• The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health as reported in the April 1989 National Strategic Research Plan
• National Council on Aging as reported in the May 1999 Hearing Loss Study
• Better Hearing Institute, Washington, D.C.