55 Million U.S. Adults Have Hearing Loss

Thirty-one percent of participants, or an estimated 55 million U.S. adults, have high-frequency hearing loss — more than expected, researchers said.

Dr. Yuri Agrawal of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and colleagues evaluated data from a large national survey, including hearing tests, administered to 5,742 Americans age 20 to 69 from 1999 to 2004.

Researchers assessed hearing loss of 25 decibels or higher at speech frequencies and at high frequencies. Demographic characteristics and known risk factors for hearing loss — smoking, noise exposure and cardiovascular risks — were also noted.

From 2003 to 2004, 16 percent, an estimated 29 million, of U.S. adults had speech frequency hearing loss in one ear, 9 percent, or both ears, 7.3 percent.

Hearing loss, especially at high frequency, was found in participants age 20 to 29, 8.5 percent prevalence, and in those age 30 to 39, 17 percent prevalence.

The results of our study suggest that prevention and screening must begin at least in young adulthood and that efforts should be intensified among white and Mexican-American men, the study authors said in a statement.

The findings are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.