Why should you address a hearing difficulty?
June 2024
minute read
Scroll down to learn about your hearing
An estimated 48 million people (about twice the population of Texas) in the United States live with a hearing loss. This includes half of adults ages 75 and older and one-third of adults 64–74. Hearing loss is the third leading cause of chronic illness after heart disease and diabetes in older adults. Age-related hearing loss is most often caused by changes to the inner ear, but other causes have also been noted such as underlying conditions or certain medications. It is thought that age-related hearing loss and hearing loss due to long-term exposure to noise often co-occur.
Hearing loss can be challenging, and it can impact other aspects of your wellbeing. People experiencing hearing loss are at a greater risk of becoming depressed and withdrawing socially which can lead to loneliness and isolation. AARP Research found adults who say their hearing is excellent have slightly higher, but significant, average mental well-being (MWB) scores. Researchers found links between hearing and brain health, showing hearing aids can slow cognitive decline. Further, researchers found that mortality risk was lower among regular hearing aid users than in never users even after adjusting for demographics, medical history, and level of hearing loss risk.
Average mental well-being score by level of hearing health
Score ranges from 14 to 70
| Hearing health | Average mental well-being score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 50.6 |
| Excellent hearing | 52.7 |
| Hearing loss but treated | 50.3 |
| Hearing not as good as it used to be | 49.4 |
| Hearing loss and not treated | 47 |
“
The data is compelling. Hearing loss is associated with higher risk of dementia, depression, loneliness, falls and higher healthcare costs with an economic impact in the US of $133b/year. The single biggest risk factor for avoidable dementia is uncorrected hearing loss. Given the prevalence of hearing loss, more than nearly any other chronic condition, with its associated health and economic impacts, and viable advancements in technology and solutions from OTC hearing aids, prescription hearing aids and cochlear implants, to captioning and speech-to text, why shouldn’t all older adults be screened for hearing and directed to resources for care?
–Charlotte S. Yeh, MD FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services, Inc.
”
Steps you can take for optimal hearing health:
- Recognize the problem!
- Don’t wait! Seek treatment
- Get tested!
- Protect your hearing!
- Don’t let stigma stop you!
Note: Photos of individuals used for quotes in this data story are stock images and not actual photos of the individuals quoted. In charts, “n” is the sample size, or number of respondents, in the specified group.
The ability to hear declines with age. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 7 percent of younger adults, ages 18 to 44 have at least some difficulties with their hearing and this rises to 15 percent of those ages 45 to 65 and three in 10 (31%) adults ages 65 and older.
- 69% of adults say their hearing isn’t as good as it could be, but they do not think they need treatment.
- 81% of adults 40 and older feel maintaining their hearing is important for their quality of life.
- 47% said hearing health is an extremely or very important concern for them personally.
Percent who say their hearing is excellent
Overall and by age range
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Overall | 42% |
| Ages 40–49 | 52% |
| Ages 50–59 | 46% |
| Ages 60–69 | 39% |
| Ages 70+ | 29% |
In their own words: How does your hearing today compare to when you were younger?
“ ”
My hearing today is not as clear as when I was a child. While I'm not deaf or hard of hearing, I don't hear so clearly.
–Female, age 65
“ ”
I can hear very well, but I can tell my hearing is getting worse than when I was young.
–Female, age 61
“ ”
I do not always hear everything being said or do not hear a specific word or sentence accurately.
–Male, age 60
It takes time for people to address a hearing issue. Most adults 40 and older with hearing loss do not think they need treatment. On average, people say their hearing is not as good as it could be at age 59 but don’t treat it until age 70.
The average age for the following hearing self-assessments suggests it may take years before adults address a known hearing issue
Age in years
| Hearing self-assessment | Average age |
|---|---|
| My hearing is excellent | 57 |
| My hearing is not as good as it could be, but I don't need to be treated | 59 |
| I have hearing difficulty but haven't been treated | 62 |
| I have hearing difficulty and have been treated | 70 |
When asked why they aren’t treating hearing issues, half of adults said their hearing is fine in some situations, so they didn’t think they need treatment.
Percent who agree with the following statements about getting treatment for hearing loss
| Statement | Percent |
|---|---|
| My hearing is fine in some situations, so I don't need treatment | 51% |
| Unless my hearing difficulty is severe, I am unlikely to want treatment | 37% |
| It's easy to find ways to cover up some hearing difficulties | 24% |
“
AARP is working to reduce the stigma of hearing loss so it can get treated quickly and you don’t have to miss out on the important things in life. Remember to get your hearing checked annually by your doctor or by taking an easy at home screening by phone from The National Hearing Test.
–Katherine Arnold, Vice President, AARP Member Value
”
In their own words: What would you do if you had hearing loss?
“ ”
[I would] Ignore [it] for a while and then go to an audiologist.
–Male, age 72
“ ”
First, I would sign up to learn sign language. The next step would be attending class to better my skills to communicate with others.
–Female, age 51
“ ”
[I would] research on the internet, go to the doctor, follow his/her advice.
–Male, age 62
Actions You Can Take
The AARP Hearing Resource Center has advice on what to do if you are hard of hearing or suffer from hearing loss.
Visit the AARP Hearing Center
Many adults 40-plus engage in routine preventative healthcare. Most adults get annual physicals (83%), vision tests (79%), and have dental appointments (76%). Far fewer engage in hearing care; only one in four get hearing tests (26%). Hearing may be an afterthought for physicians as well. One in five adults ages 50–80 (20%) reported that their primary care provider had asked about their hearing in the past two years.
Newly published clinical practice guidelines recommend that primary care providers screen their patients for age-related hearing loss beginning at age 50. If a hearing loss has been identified, through the screening process, and other treatable conditions have been ruled out, it is strongly recommended that patients be referred to a specialist for further testing.
Percent who have had the following health care in the past five years
Among all respondents
| Type of Health Care | Percent |
|---|---|
| Annual physical | 83% |
| Vision test | 79% |
| Visit to dentist | 76% |
| Colonoscopy | 41% |
| Visit to dermatologist | 32% |
| Hearing test | 26% |
| Cognitive screening | 10% |
In their own words: Do you think adults should get regular screening hearing tests?
“ ”
Yes, I do. It can be hard to tell if you are slowly losing your hearing.
–Male, age 64
“ ”
Not unless there were some deficits noticed.
–Female, age 70
“ ”
Only if they need them.
–Male, age 53
Actions You Can Take
The National Hearing Test is an independent hearing screening test you can take at home. Free for AARP members, the test was developed and validated with funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Most adults ages 50-plus recognize the importance of maintaining their hearing health to the quality of their life. However, adults 40-plus rarely or never protect their hearing, even while using loud machinery or power tools.
Percent who rarely or never protect their hearing when…
Among respondents who participated in each activity
Never
Rarely
| Activity | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Attending a sporting event (n=2,259) | Never | 58% |
| Rarely | 21% | |
| Attending events featuring loud music (n=2,767) | Never | 56% |
| Rarely | 22% | |
| Attending a concert (n=2,256) | Never | 52% |
| Rarely | 21% | |
| Using loud machinery (n=2,359) | Never | 38% |
| Rarely | 19% | |
| Using power tools (n=2,150) | Never | 34% |
| Rarely | 21% |
In their own words: Do you do anything to protect your hearing from loud noise?
“ ”
No, I should...I put cotton in the ears, but it doesn't help.
–Female, age 69
“ ”
I don't use anything to protect my hearing.
–Female, age 67
“ ”
Sometimes I will wear ear plugs (comes with the air pods I have)
–Male, age 58
Actions You Can Take
Learn how to protect your hearing from loud noise with tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
One in five (22%) adults ages 40 and older said that admitting they have a hearing difficulty is admitting they are getting older, suggesting that people are worried they may be stigmatized in some way if they were to address their hearing issue. There is a grain of truth to this fear with about one-quarter (27%) of adults feeling that society negatively judges people with a hearing impairment with one in five (18%) feeling that using hearing aids carries a stigma.
The good news is that more than three-quarters of adults ages 40 and older said they would be more likely to treat any hearing difficulty if they knew it could improve the quality of their life (78%) or allow them to maintain their independence (76%). Additionally, seven in 10 (71%) adults said they would be likely to address hearing issues with the knowledge it could reduce their risk of serious issues such as dementia, cognitive decline, and social isolation.
Unfortunately, most insurance plans, original Medicare, and Medicare supplemental plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids. Medicare Advantage may cover the cost of hearing aids. Recently, over-the-counter hearing aids became available for those over the age of 18 with mild to moderate hearing loss and may cost less than prescription hearing aids. According to the November 2023 issue of Consumer Reports, over-the-counter hearing aids range in price from $200 to $1,000 while prescription hearing aids have a much heftier price tag ranging in price from $1,000 to $6,000.
Likelihood of addressing hearing difficulties now or in the future if they knew hearing loss increased the risk of dementia, cognitive decline, falls, and social isolation
Among all respondents
| Type of Health Care | Percent |
|---|---|
| Extremely likely | 38% |
| Very likely | 33% |
| Somewhat likely | 22% |
| Not very likely | 4% |
| Not at all likely | 3% |
“
Hearing matters! For years, hearing loss has been a silent epidemic. Recent science, research and data are now demonstrating the relationship between hearing and better health outcomes from mental well-being, social connection, cognitive/brain health, and lower healthcare costs. Advancements in technology have led to lower cost, more accessible, more customizable hearing aids to improve hearing in more settings and lifestyle preferences. Hearing aids need not be a sign of aging but a sign of caring about aging better, connecting with others socially, reducing fall risk and cognitive decline among other benefits. Screen early for hearing loss and don’t wait until you miss your grandchildren’s secrets or the doorbell or birds singing before you take action.
–Charlotte S. Yeh, MD FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services, Inc.
”
In their own words: How do you think others might perceive people who are wearing hearing aids?
“ ”
Some people may perceive others as older than they are but frankly the hearing devices today are so small they are not noticed. It is more noticeable when someone is unable to hear.
–Female, age 70
“ ”
I don't think most people think anything different about them.
–Male, age 64
“ ”
People may think they are old.
–Male, age 59
Actions You Can Take
Learn about hearing aids and personal sound amplification products by reading the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Hearing Aids and Personal Sound Amplication Products: What to Know guide.
Save money on hearing aids with AARP® Hearing Solutions™ by UnitedHealthcare®. AARP members can save up to 20% on hearing aids and 15% on accessories, plus receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers.
Visit AARP Hearing Solutions™ by UnitedHealthcare®
- Aishwarya Shukla, Michael Harper, Emily Pedersen, Adele Goman, Jonathan J. Suen, Carrie Price, Jeremy Applebaum, Matthew Hoyer, Frank R. Lin, and Nicholas S. Reed. Hearing Loss, Loneliness, and Social Isolation: A Systematic Review. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 162(5): 622–633, May 2020. doi:10.1177/0194599820910377.
- Mehegan, Laura. The Intersection Between Hearing and Brain Health: Survey of Adults Ages 40-Plus. Washington, DC: AARP Research, September 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00717.001.
- Lin, F. R., Pike, J. R., Albert, M. S., Arnold, M., Burgard, S., Chisolm, T., Couper, D., Deal, J. A., Goman, A. M., Glynn, N. W., Gmelin, T., Gravens-Mueller, L., Hayden, K. M., Huang, A. R., Knopman, D., Mitchell, C. M., Mosley, T., Pankow, J. S., Reed, N. S., Sanchez, V., … ACHIEVE Collaborative Research Group (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 402(10404), 786–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X.
- Katharine K Brewster and Carly Maitlin. The effect of hearing aids on mortality. The Lancet. January 2024. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00265-9.
- Madans JH, Weeks JD, Elgaddal N. Hearing difficulties among adults: United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 414. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620.
- Mehegan, Laura. Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Hearing. Washington, DC: AARP Research, September 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00717.004.
- Mehegan, Laura. It Takes Time for People to Address a Hearing Issue. Washington, DC: AARP Research, October 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00717.005.
- Mehegan, Laura. Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Hearing. Washington, DC: AARP Research, September 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00717.004.
- McKee M, Zazove P, Singer D, Solway E, Kirch M, Kullgren J, Malani P. Hearing Loss Among Older Adults: Screening and Testing. University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. March 2021. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/166322.
- Tsai Do, B.S., Bender, K., Keenan, T.A., Palmer, C.V., Ross, E.J., Reyes, J. and Dhepyasuwan, N. (2024), Plain Language Summary: Age-Related Hearing Loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 170: 1228-1233. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.751.
- Mehegan, Laura. Attitudes About Hearing Health: Adults Age 50+. Washington, DC: AARP Research, March 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00600.001.
- Raimondi, Alessandra. Social Stigma and Health Conditions: A Survey Among Adults 40+. Washington, DC: AARP Research, September 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00717.003.
- BetterHearing. The Price of Hearing Aids. Washington, DC: Hearing Industries Association, 2024. https://betterhearing.org/hearing-aids/the-price-of-hearing-aids.
