Hearing Loss Statistics: Understanding the Numbers Behind America's Hidden Health Crisis

The Scope of Hearing Loss in America

More than 50 million Americans live with some degree of hearing loss, representing about one in seven people in the United States. This makes hearing loss the third most common chronic physical condition in America, occurring twice as frequently as diabetes or cancer1.

Expert Insights

From Dr. Ruth Reisman, Audiologist

With more than 50 million Americans experiencing hearing loss, we must start treating hearing care as a public health priority, not a luxury. Access, affordability, and education are the missing links preventing millions from getting the help they need.

Key prevalence statistics:

• Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing.
• Among adults ages 20 to 69, 14% (27.7 million) have hearing loss.
• The number of adults with hearing loss is expected to climb to 73.5 million by 20602.

Age and Hearing Loss: The Inevitable Connection

Age remains the strongest predictor of hearing loss. The prevalence increases dramatically with each decade of life:

• Ages 45-54: About 2% have hearing loss
• Ages 55-64: 8.5% have hearing loss
• Ages 65-74: 25% have hearing loss
• Ages 75 and older: 50% have hearing loss3

Among the oldest adults, hearing loss becomes even more prevalent. 65.3% of people aged 71 and older have hearing loss, representing 21.5 million Americans.

Demographics and Risk Factors

Hearing loss rates vary depending on gender, race, and other factors. While hearing loss typically increases among older adults, other circumstances, such as the workplace and environment, can have a profound effect on hearing health.

Gender Differences in Hearing Loss

Men face significantly higher rates of hearing loss than women. Among adults aged 20 to 69, men are almost twice as likely as women to experience hearing loss. This gap is most pronounced in middle age—among Americans in their 50s, men are three times more likely than women to experience hearing loss.

Interestingly, the types of hearing loss differ by gender. While age-related hearing loss typically affects higher frequencies, women are more likely to have difficulty hearing at lower frequencies as they age4.

Racial and Ethnic Variations

Hearing loss prevalence varies significantly across racial and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic White adults are more likely than adults in other racial and ethnic groups to have hearing loss. Meanwhile, non-Hispanic Black adults have the lowest prevalence among adults ages 20 to 69.

Occupational and Environmental Factors

Work environments also play a crucial role in hearing health. Among adults ages 20 to 69 who report five or more years of exposure to very loud noise at work, about 18% have speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears. In contrast, only 5.5% of adults with no occupational noise exposure develop similar hearing loss.

Veterans and Hearing Loss

Veterans face particularly high rates of hearing problems. 3.6 million U.S. veterans receive benefits for hearing issues, making it the most common service-connected disability.  This includes 2.3 million veterans receiving hearing loss benefits and 1.3 million receiving tinnitus benefits.

Children and Young Adults at Risk

Hearing loss isn't just a concern for older adults. Children and young adults also face potential hearing loss:

• About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss.
• More than one in 10 children and teens ages 6 to 19 have some degree of hearing loss.
• Over 1 billion young adults worldwide are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.
• About 50% of individuals aged 12 to 35 years are at risk of hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds.

Thanks to legislation advocated for in 1999, 98% of newborns now get hearing screenings each year in the U.S. Early detection is crucial to avoid language and education delays.

Worldwide Hearing Loss Trends

The global scope of hearing loss is staggering:

• More than 1.5 billion people worldwide live with hearing loss, which is about nearly 20% of the global population
• 430 million have disabling hearing loss that requires rehabilitation services.
• By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are expected to have some degree of hearing loss, with more than 700 million requiring hearing rehabilitation.

Barriers to Hearing Aid Adoption

Financial Obstacles

Cost remains the primary barrier to hearing aid adoption. Hearing aids costs can run up to $8,000 per set, and this doesn't include maintenance and replacement costs. About 87% of total hearing aid sales are attributed to device replacement, since hearing aids usually need to be replaced every 3 to 7 years.

Medicare currently does not cover hearing aids, creating a significant barrier for older adults. Even Medicare Advantage plans with hearing aid benefits often require enrollees to pay nearly 80% of total hearing care costs out-of-pocket. If cost is a major concern for you, visit our guide to the best cheap hearing aids.

Research shows that participants with income under the poverty line had 2.9 times the odds of interrupted hearing aid use and 2.7 times the odds of ceasing use entirely5.

Access and Awareness Barriers

Beyond cost, other significant barriers include:

• Uncertainty about who to contact for hearing care
• Inability to get time off work
• Stigma and misperceptions about hearing loss and hearing technology

The Delay Factor

Even when people do seek treatment, the average person waits nine years after diagnosis before getting their first hearing aid. This delay can have serious consequences for communication, social engagement, and cognitive health.

Hearing Aid Usage and Adoption Rates

The Treatment Gap

Despite the high prevalence of hearing loss, treatment rates remain disappointingly low. About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids, but fewer than 1 in 5 of those use them.

The statistics are particularly stark among specific age groups:

• Only 16% of adults ages 20 to 69 who experience hearing loss have ever worn a hearing aid6.
• Among Medicare beneficiaries aged 71 and older, only 29.2% of those with hearing loss use hearing aids.

Encouraging Trends in Adoption

However, there's reason for optimism. Hearing aid adoption rates have steadily increased, rising from 30.2% in 2015 to 39.1% in 2025. This improvement includes traditional and over-the-counter hearing aids. Developments in technology, including over-the-counter hearing aids, have helped improve hearing aid adoption by making these devices more accessible and affordable.

Among adults over 70 years of age, hearing aid use increased by more than 23% between 2011 and 2018. This increase occurred across gender and racial lines, suggesting broader access to hearing health care.

Demographics of Hearing Aid Use

Current usage patterns show interesting demographic variations:

• 1% of Americans aged 45 and older use hearing aids
• Among adults aged 65 and older, 14.4% use hearing aids
• Men are more likely than women to both report hearing difficulties and use hearing aids

Expert Insights

From Dr. Ruth Reisman, Audiologist

The encouraging rise in hearing aid adoption is a step forward, but until we address financial barriers and stigma, too many people, especially older adults, will continue to live with untreated hearing loss despite the proven benefits of modern technology.

Our Methodology

Our analysis draws from authoritative sources including the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), and recent MarkeTrak survey data. Statistics represent the most current available data through 2025, with some figures drawn from large-scale epidemiological studies conducted in recent years.

All economic figures are presented in current U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified, and global projections are based on WHO modeling that accounts for demographic changes and current trends in hearing loss prevalence.

This guide has also been reviewed by audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman, who has decades of experience prescribing and testing hearing aids. Dr. Reisman's research and methods in the assessment and treatment of hearing disorders in some of the most challenging cases have been awarded and recognized within the field of audiology.

Final Thoughts

The statistics paint a clear picture: hearing loss is far more common than most people realize, affecting one in seven Americans and increasing globally. While the numbers seem overwhelming, there are encouraging trends in both awareness and treatment adoption.

The key takeaway for seniors and caregivers is that you're not alone in facing hearing challenges. Millions of people successfully manage hearing loss with modern hearing aids and support services. The technology has never been better, adoption rates are climbing, and awareness of hearing health is growing.

Most importantly, don't let statistics become barriers. If you or a loved one is experiencing hearing difficulties, seek help sooner for better outcomes. Early intervention not only improves communication and quality of life, but may also provide cognitive and social benefits.