Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060

Abstract

Hearing loss is a major public health issue independently associated with higher health care costs, accelerated cognitive decline, and poorer physical functioning. More than two-thirds of adults 70 years or older in the United States have clinically meaningful hearing loss. With an aging society, the number of persons with hearing loss will grow, increasing the demand for audiologic health care services. A recent National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report highlighted the critical need to address hearing loss and the limitations of current audiologic health care in the United States. In the present study, we used US population projection estimates with current prevalence estimates of hearing loss to estimate the number of adults expected to have a hearing loss during the next 43 years. These projections can inform policy makers and public health researchers in planning appropriately for the future audiologic hearing health care needs of society.