An estimated 48 million people (about twice the population of Texas) in the United States live with a hearing loss. This includes half of adults ages 75 and older and one-third of adults 64–74. Hearing loss is the third leading cause of chronic illness after heart disease and diabetes in older adults. Age-related hearing loss is most often caused by changes to the inner ear, but other causes have also been noted such as underlying conditions or certain medications. It is thought that age-related hearing loss and hearing loss due to long-term exposure to noise often co-occur.

Hearing loss can be challenging, and it can impact other aspects of your wellbeing. People experiencing hearing loss are at a greater risk of becoming depressed and withdrawing socially which can lead to loneliness and isolation. AARP Research found adults who say their hearing is excellent have slightly higher, but significant, average mental well-being (MWB) scores. Researchers found links between hearing and brain health, showing hearing aids can slow cognitive decline. Further, researchers found that mortality risk was lower among regular hearing aid users than in never users even after adjusting for demographics, medical history, and level of hearing loss risk.

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The data is compelling. Hearing loss is associated with higher risk of dementia, depression, loneliness, falls and higher healthcare costs with an economic impact in the US of $133b/year. The single biggest risk factor for avoidable dementia is uncorrected hearing loss. Given the prevalence of hearing loss, more than nearly any other chronic condition, with its associated health and economic impacts, and viable advancements in technology and solutions from OTC hearing aids, prescription hearing aids and cochlear implants, to captioning and speech-to text, why shouldn’t all older adults be screened for hearing and directed to resources for care?

–Charlotte S. Yeh, MD FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services, Inc.

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Steps you can take for optimal hearing health:

• Recognize the problem!
• Don’t wait! Seek treatment
• Get tested!
• Protect your hearing!
• Don’t let stigma stop you!

Recognize the Problem!

The ability to hear declines with age. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 7 percent of younger adults, ages 18 to 44 have at least some difficulties with their hearing and this rises to 15 percent of those ages 45 to 65 and three in 10 (31%) adults ages 65 and older.

• 69% of adults say their hearing isn’t as good as it could be, but they do not think they need treatment.
• 81% of adults 40 and older feel maintaining their hearing is important for their quality of life.
• 47% said hearing health is an extremely or very important concern for them personally.

In their own words: How does your hearing today compare to when you were younger?

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My hearing today is not as clear as when I was a child. While I'm not deaf or hard of hearing, I don't hear so clearly.

–Female, age 65

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I can hear very well, but I can tell my hearing is getting worse than when I was young.

–Female, age 61

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I do not always hear everything being said or do not hear a specific word or sentence accurately.

–Male, age 60

Don’t Wait! Seek Treatment

It takes time for people to address a hearing issue. Most adults 40 and older with hearing loss do not think they need treatment. On average, people say their hearing is not as good as it could be at age 59 but don’t treat it until age 70.

When asked why they aren’t treating hearing issues, half of adults said their hearing is fine in some situations, so they didn’t think they need treatment.

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AARP is working to reduce the stigma of hearing loss so it can get treated quickly and you don’t have to miss out on the important things in life. Remember to get your hearing checked annually by your doctor or by taking an easy at home screening by phone from The National Hearing Test.

–Katherine Arnold, Vice President, AARP Member Value

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In their own words: What would you do if you had hearing loss?

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[I would] Ignore [it] for a while and then go to an audiologist.

–Male, age 72

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First, I would sign up to learn sign language. The next step would be attending class to better my skills to communicate with others.

–Female, age 51

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[I would] research on the internet, go to the doctor, follow his/her advice.

–Male, age 62

Get Tested!

Many adults 40-plus engage in routine preventative healthcare. Most adults get annual physicals (83%), vision tests (79%), and have dental appointments (76%). Far fewer engage in hearing care; only one in four get hearing tests (26%). Hearing may be an afterthought for physicians as well. One in five adults ages 50–80 (20%) reported that their primary care provider had asked about their hearing in the past two years.

Newly published clinical practice guidelines recommend that primary care providers screen their patients for age-related hearing loss beginning at age 50. If a hearing loss has been identified, through the screening process, and other treatable conditions have been ruled out, it is strongly recommended that patients be referred to a specialist for further testing.

In their own words: Do you think adults should get regular screening hearing tests?

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Yes, I do. It can be hard to tell if you are slowly losing your hearing.

–Male, age 64

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Not unless there were some deficits noticed.

–Female, age 70

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Only if they need them.

–Male, age 53

Protect Your Hearing!

Most adults ages 50-plus recognize the importance of maintaining their hearing health to the quality of their life. However, adults 40-plus rarely or never protect their hearing, even while using loud machinery or power tools.

In their own words: Do you do anything to protect your hearing from loud noise?

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No, I should...I put cotton in the ears, but it doesn't help.

–Female, age 69

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I don't use anything to protect my hearing.

–Female, age 67

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Sometimes I will wear ear plugs (comes with the air pods I have)

–Male, age 58

Don’t Let Stigma Stop You!

One in five (22%) adults ages 40 and older said that admitting they have a hearing difficulty is admitting they are getting older, suggesting that people are worried they may be stigmatized in some way if they were to address their hearing issue. There is a grain of truth to this fear with about one-quarter (27%) of adults feeling that society negatively judges people with a hearing impairment with one in five (18%) feeling that using hearing aids carries a stigma.

The good news is that more than three-quarters of adults ages 40 and older said they would be more likely to treat any hearing difficulty if they knew it could improve the quality of their life (78%) or allow them to maintain their independence (76%). Additionally, seven in 10 (71%) adults said they would be likely to address hearing issues with the knowledge it could reduce their risk of serious issues such as dementia, cognitive decline, and social isolation.

Unfortunately, most insurance plans, original Medicare, and Medicare supplemental plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids. Medicare Advantage may cover the cost of hearing aids. Recently, over-the-counter hearing aids became available for those over the age of 18 with mild to moderate hearing loss and may cost less than prescription hearing aids. According to the November 2023 issue of Consumer Reports, over-the-counter hearing aids range in price from $200 to $1,000 while prescription hearing aids have a much heftier price tag ranging in price from $1,000 to $6,000.

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Hearing matters! For years, hearing loss has been a silent epidemic. Recent science, research and data are now demonstrating the relationship between hearing and better health outcomes from mental well-being, social connection, cognitive/brain health, and lower healthcare costs. Advancements in technology have led to lower cost, more accessible, more customizable hearing aids to improve hearing in more settings and lifestyle preferences. Hearing aids need not be a sign of aging but a sign of caring about aging better, connecting with others socially, reducing fall risk and cognitive decline among other benefits. Screen early for hearing loss and don’t wait until you miss your grandchildren’s secrets or the doorbell or birds singing before you take action.

–Charlotte S. Yeh, MD FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services, Inc.

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In their own words: How do you think others might perceive people who are wearing hearing aids?

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Some people may perceive others as older than they are but frankly the hearing devices today are so small they are not noticed. It is more noticeable when someone is unable to hear.

–Female, age 70

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I don't think most people think anything different about them.

–Male, age 64

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People may think they are old.

–Male, age 59