Introduction
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in the United States, with about 48 million people affected. Say’s Dr. William Siefert, the prevalence of hearing loss increases with age, however, so it’s important to start thinking about how your hearing will affect you as you get older. Early diagnosis is key to preserving and improving our ability to hear—and studies show that treating hearing loss early has a positive effect on overall health and well-being.
The level of hearing loss in the United States is about 12 percent.
In the United States, the overall prevalence of hearing loss is about 12 percent. That means that 1 out of 8 people has some degree of hearing impairment. The most common type of hearing loss is age-related; more than half (55%) of those with a significant hearing difficulty were 65 years or older in 2014. About one-third (34%) had mild to severe difficulties and 11% had profound or total losses.
In addition to being more likely to develop age-related deafness, men are also more likely than women to have conductive hearing loss–which is caused by blockage in the outer ear canal or middle ear space–and sensorineural deafness–which occurs when there are problems with nerve cells involved with processing sound vibrations from your inner ear into sounds you can understand.
The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age.
The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age. Age-related hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss, affecting approximately one third of people over 65 years old and nearly half of those older than 75 years old. Hearing loss is a natural part of aging and affects every person differently depending on their genetic makeup, lifestyle choices and health status.
Early diagnosis is key to preserving and improving our ability to hear.
Early diagnosis is key to preserving and improving our ability to hear. The earlier you get help, the better.
If you are experiencing a hearing loss that affects your daily life, it’s important to have an assessment by an audiologist or other qualified health professional as soon as possible. This will ensure that you receive the right treatment and support so that any difficulties caused by hearing loss can be addressed quickly and effectively.
Studies show that treating hearing loss early has a positive effect on overall health and well-being.
It’s important to note that hearing loss is a progressive condition. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to treat. If left untreated, your hearing loss may become severe enough that assisted listening devices (ALDs) are needed in order to hear properly. Hearing aids are not available in many countries and ALDs don’t always provide sufficient amplification for people with profound hearing loss.
In addition to the benefits of starting treatment early on, there are other reasons why it’s beneficial:
Hearing loss across cultures is common, but there are ways to manage it effectively if you’re able to get help early enough
Hearing loss is common across cultures. In fact, it’s estimated that one in three people will experience some form of hearing loss by the age of 65. In many cases, this can be managed effectively through treatment and support programs. However, if you wait too long to seek out help for your condition–or if you never find a way to address it at all–the effects can be devastating.
For example: If your parents don’t understand what you’re saying because they don’t know how to read lips (or if there are no sign language interpreters available), it could mean that they miss important information about their child’s health or behavior issues at school or work. Similarly, if family members have trouble communicating with each other because they have different accents or dialects (e.,g., British versus Australian), this could impact everyone involved in ways that are difficult-to- impossible to predict ahead of time
Conclusion
Hearing loss is a serious issue, but it’s also one that can be treated and managed effectively if you’re able to get help early enough. The key is knowing your options and being proactive about getting tested for hearing loss as soon as possible.
