Improved hearing
enhances quality of life.

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.