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Hearing loss can have a detrimental effect on one’s life.

Untreated hearing loss can lead to:

Impaired memory

and ability to learn new tasks

Reduced alertness

and increased risk to personal safety

Reduced job performance


and earning power

Irritability

negativism and anger

Fatigue

tension, stress and depression

Avoidance

or withdrawal from social situations

Hearing loss is linked to several comorbid conditions.

Hearing loss has been linked to the following degenerative diseases and conditions.

Researchers have found that moderate hearing loss triples the risk for dementia while individuals with severe hearing loss are 5 times more likely to develop dementia. Caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will total an estimated $277 billion, making it the most expensive disease in America.

Studies have suggested that people with low-frequency hearing loss may be at higher risk for stroke. Additionally, sudden hearing loss has proven to be an early sign of vulnerability to stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s leading cause of death—over 17 million deaths a year.

Researchers have determined that even a mild degree of hearing loss triples the risk of an accidental fall, with the risk increasing by 140% for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death of Americans over the age of 65 and their medical costs are an estimated $30-$50 billion a year.

Untreated hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of depression, especially between the ages of 18 and 69. Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects 15 million adults and approximately 7% of full-time U.S workers. The total economic burden of MDD is estimated to be more than $210 billion per year.

Diabetics are twice as likely to have hearing loss. Diabetics under the age of 60 are even more likely to develop hearing loss, at nearly three times their normal-hearing peers. It’s expected that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Currently, there are 26 million Americans living with diabetes and another 79 million with prediabetes.

Hearing loss can be a side effect of chemotherapy drugs and head or neck radiation. In a landmark study, 61% of cancer patients ages 8 months-23 years reported hearing loss after treatment. Estimated national expenditures for cancer care in the U.S in 2017 were $147.3 billion and are expected to increase in future years.

Toxins that accumulate in kidney failure can damage nerves, including those in the inner ear. Research has shown that hearing loss is common in people with moderate CKD, which affects an estimated 30 million or 1 in 7 adults in the U.S.

Hearing loss can pose a risk to an employee’s ability to hear sounds that signal hazards. It is also the most common work-related injury with approximately 22 million workers exposed annually to hazardous levels of occupational noise. An estimated $242 million is spent on worker’s compensation annually for hearing loss disability.

Additional Hearing Health Statistics