Hearing loss is often minimized, considered a normal part of aging rather than a life-changing condition, but addressing and maintaining hearing health is a critical part of aging well.

Hearing loss is pervasive. According to the World Health Organization, 430 million people worldwide have debilitating hearing loss. This is expected to almost double by 2050. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) reports that this includes more than 50 million Americans. In addition, a 2024 study in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research showed that more than one in 10 children aged 6 to 19 already has some hearing loss.

Hearing loss is everywhere, and not surprisingly, more prevalent as people age. According to the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), 8.5 percent of adults aged 55 to 64 have hearing loss. This jumps to 25 percent in adults aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent in adults aged 75 .

Hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes. There is a high correlation........

© Psychology Today