Facts and figures from science and research
The Hear the World survey
To launch Hear the World, Phonak releases results from a survey the company had commissioned and which details more than 3,000 American, French and German respondents’ views about hearing and hearing loss.
More » Estimated 500 million people worldwide suffer from hearing lossNumber expected to grow to 700 million by 2015
The hearing-specialist community estimates that 500 million people worldwide have a kind of hearing loss; however, the exact number is unknown. Various studies have attempted to measure the general prevalence of hearing loss on an international, regional or country basis with the following results:
250 million people worldwide have at least a moderate hearing loss, two-thirds of whom live in developing countries (World Health Organization 2001 study).
In the United States, an estimated 1 in every 10 people, or approximately 29 million, are hard of hearing (American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association studies).
In the UK, approximately 9 million people, or 1 in every 7, are hard of hearing(Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID, 2003).
Over the past 20 years, several European studies have researched adult hearing loss with varying results. Statistics on general hearing loss in Europe, based on the results of these surveys, are as follows:
- 16.9 % of Europeans suffer from mild hearing loss
- 4.6 % have moderate hearing loss
- 0.9 % have severe or profound hearing loss
Not surprisingly, the prevalence of hearing loss increases with age. The RNID (2003) found that more than 90% of UK residents age 80 or older suffer from some degree of hearing loss. According to the American Academy of Audiology, hearing loss is the third most significant, but treatable, health problem for American seniors, behind arthritis and hypertension. As the population gradually ages, age-related progressive hearing loss will increase proportionately.
More than 700 million to be hard of hearing by 2015The British MRC Institute of Hearing Research estimates that the total number of people suffering from at least mild hearing loss (defined as hearing loss of more than 25 decibels) will exceed 700 million worldwide by 2015.
In the developed world alone, the number of hard of hearing people will reach 215 million by 2015. Of those, some 90 million will be Europeans. In developing countries the number of people suffering from hearing loss is expected to be twice as large as in the developed world, primarily because of untreated ear infections and lack of access to basic health care.
Two of the main reasons hearing loss is increasing worldwide include
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Increased exposure to excessive noise at work, in the general environment and in leisure.
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Age-related progressive hearing loss, teamed with a shift in demographics as the population ages, particularly in Europe.
Baby boomer lifestyle has influence on increasing figures
In developed countries, people suffer from hearing loss at younger ages primarily because of increased exposure to excessive noise. For example, according to a 1994 National Health Interview Survey, hearing problems among Americans in the 18-to-44 age group increased 17% from 1971 to 1990. During the same time frame, hearing problems among Americans from ages 45 to 64 increased 26%.
Baby boomers, the large generation born in the years after World War II, lead the most active and noisy lifestyle of any generation so far. And there seem to be clear indications that baby boomers suffer from a significantly higher degree of hearing loss than their parents or any other generation before them. For example, according to a 1997 US survey, hearing loss among the over 50 age group increased 150% from 1965 to 1994 alone. Paired with the fact that the baby boomers will live longer than any generation before them, hearing loss in people over 55 is expected to reach new levels in severity and prevalence in coming decades. (Hear-it AISBL, 2005)
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