Are you looking for some facts and data to finally get a loved one to have a hearing test or be fitted for a hearing aid? Chatting about some of the data related to the prevalence, causes and effects of hearing problems may finally get them to make that initial appointment. The following are some facts and statistics to help you make your case:

• More men than women experience hearing loss.
• Roughly 13% of the population over age 65 will experience tinnitus – ringing in the ears.
• The number of Americans with hearing loss has doubled in the last 30 years.
• Nearly one of of every 5 individuals in the US have some form of hearing loss – that is 36 million people!
• Ten million people have irreversible loss of hearing because of noise, and 30 million more people are exposed to harmful levels of noise every day.
• Many more people could benefit from a hearing aid than in fact wear one. Some estimates claim there are 4 additional people who could benefit, for every 1 actually using a hearing aid.
• One million Americans have tinnitus that is so serious it gets in the way of daily life.
• Hearing loss categorization studies report that 5% of cases are severe, 30% moderate and 65% are classified as mild.
• Roughly 13,000 adults and 10,000 children in the United States have cochlear implants.
• Approximately 26 million Americans aged between 20 and 69 suffer from high frequency hearing loss caused by recurring exposure to loud noise either on the job or during leisure activities.
• Those with hearing loss delay an average of 10 years before doing anything about it.

Does that describe you or someone you love?