Statistics on Noise Induced Hearing Loss

• More than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

• Of the 28 million Americans who have hearing loss, over one-third have been affected at least in part by noise. (ASHA)

• Excessive noise exposure is the most common cause of hearing loss. (American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery)

• Audiology experts agree that hearing loss in the United States is increasing. The number of Americans age 3 and older with some form of hearing disorder has more than doubled since 1971. (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

• Noise-induced hearing loss affects people of all ages. U.S. government survey data revealed that 12.5% of children ages 6 to 19 (approximately 5.2 million children) have permanent damage to their ears' hair cells caused by exposure to loud noises. In addition 15.5% of children ages 12 to 19 had some hearing loss in one or both ears, highlighting the fact that noise-induced hearing loss grows more prevalent with age. (Niskar, 2001)

• Noise-induced hearing loss is also growing among baby boomers. Of the more than 75 million Americans born between 1945 and 1964, 20.4% or 16 million people have some degree of hearing loss. (National Center for Health Statistics)