Between 10 and 15 percent of the earth’s adult population suffer from hearing loss. This means around half a billion people.

No matter which way you look at it, a large portion of the world’s population has a hearing loss. However, only a small proportion of these use hearing aids, even though they are the only thing which can help their hearing loss.

Europe

European studies show that between 12-16% of the adult population suffer from hearing loss. That translates to around 70 million Europeans.

In France, Germany and the United Kingdom, studies have shown that around one in eight report having problems with their hearing. The British organization Action on Hearing evaluates that one in seven Britons have a hearing loss. Other studies report that one in six has a hearing loss.

The figures vary depending on how you measure them. If you measure by taking a hearing test from a section of the population, the figures for hearing loss will be higher than if you ask people if they experience having hearing loss. This is because you must have a slightly higher hearing loss before you yourself will notice it.

North America

Studies in the US show that more than 35 million North Americans suffer from hearing loss. That is the same as one in ten who must live with hearing loss on a daily basis, and that number is growing.

Canadian figures show that people experience hearing disorders and hearing loss much earlier than in the past. According to the figures, 25% of the hearing impaired are under 40.

Other studies point to the fact that hearing loss is also common among young people and children in North America. According to the study, this is mainly because of noise and the use of iPods and MP3-players.

South America, Asia and Africa

There are no known studies of the number of people with hearing loss in South America, Asia and Africa. There is however no reason to believe that the figures will be so different from those in Europe and North America. Many of the countries in these areas, for example China and Japan, have an elderly population, and noise affects more and more people both at work and in their free time. There are also many children in developing countries who suffer from untreated ear infections which can lead to hearing loss – a hearing loss which will follow them for the rest of their lives.

In Australia and New Zealand, the studies show that the number of people with hearing loss is pretty much the same as in Europe and North America. In other words, 10-15% of the adult population.

Too few use hearing aids

Only a small proportion of those with a hearing loss actually use hearing aids. In the US, studies show that only one in four of those with hearing loss use hearing aids. In countries such as Germany and France, this figure is one in three; while in the United Kingdom and countries such as Denmark and Norway the figure is around 40%. In other countries, the number of hearing impaired people who use hearing aids is much lower. This includes southern Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.

There is a clear connection between the number of hearing aid users and the economic quality of life as well as the possibility of subsidies for hearing aids or having hearing aids partially or wholly paid for through public funding.

Søren Petersen is the author of this article on middle ear implant.
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