Hearing Loss in the UK Infographic

Hearing Loss in the UK

• More than 70% of over 70-year-olds have some form of hearing loss
• 40% of over 50-year-olds suffer some degree of hearing loss
• 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents
• 88% suffering both hearing and sight loss are aged 70 or over
• Age related damage to the cochlea, known as presbycusis, is the single biggest cause of hearing loss
• 900,000 people are severely or profoundly deaf in the UK, including 45,000 deaf children
• 1/6 of the population suffer from hearing loss, meaning more than 10 million people in the UK alone
• On average it takes ten yeas for people to address their hearing loss
• Swimmer's ear affects 1 in 10 people at some stage of their lives
• Tinnitus is one of the most common health problems in the UK. Chances increase over 65 years old – far more common in the older demographic
• 1 in every 1000 children is born with profound hearing loss
• 6,699,500 people in the UK have hearing aids
• Otoscelrosis is the abnormal growth of bones stopping sound waves from entering the ear and is most common in 20 - 30 year olds

Hearing Loss and the Workplace

In an Action on Hearing Loss 2013 survey on hearing loss and the work place (422 respondents):

• 74% or respondents felt their employment opportunities were limited by hearing loss
• 70% of respondants agreed that hearing loss sometimes prevented
• 68% agreed they sometimes felt isolated at work because of their hearing loss
• 48% or nearly hald of respondents in employment used an amplified telephone
• 30% of respondents in employment used a hearing loop system