Statistics · Prevalence
How Many Americans Have Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss affects roughly one in seven American adults — about 48 million people — making it the third most common chronic health condition in the U.S. after heart disease and arthritis. Prevalence more than doubles with every decade past 50.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Chana Zelenko, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology · NPI 1881311694 · Last updated July 16, 2026
The headline number
48M
American adults with measurable hearing loss (NIDCD)
Source: NIDCD
Section 01
The headline number: ~48 million adults
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that about 15% of American adults — 37.5 million people age 18+ — report some trouble hearing. Diagnostic testing consistently finds a higher true prevalence: roughly 48 million when subclinical loss is included.
The CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which uses actual audiograms rather than self-report, finds 14.1% of adults 20+ have measurable hearing loss in at least one ear.
Section 02
Prevalence by age — it doubles every decade past 50
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the single biggest driver of U.S. prevalence. Roughly 2% of adults 45–54 have disabling hearing loss. That climbs to 8.5% at 55–64, 25% at 65–74, and 50% at 75 and older.
% of U.S. adults with disabling hearing loss, by age
Disabling hearing loss = worse than 35 dB in the better ear. Source: NIDCD.
Section 03
Florida is above the national average
Florida's median age (43.3) is the second-oldest in the U.S., and Palm Beach County (where Boca Raton sits) skews older still (median 47). Prevalence of disabling hearing loss in Palm Beach County adults 65+ is estimated at 33% — one in three neighbors — compared to the ~27% national average for that age band.
That's why South Florida audiology practices see roughly 40% more late-onset presbycusis than the national norm.
Section 04
Global context — 430 million and rising
The World Health Organization estimates 430 million people worldwide (5% of the global population) live with disabling hearing loss. By 2050 the WHO projects that number will exceed 700 million — one in every ten people.
Global disabling hearing loss projection
Millions of people, 2020 vs. 2050. Source: WHO World Report on Hearing.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Is hearing loss more common than diabetes?
Yes. About 48 million U.S. adults have hearing loss, compared to 38 million with diabetes. It's the third most common chronic condition in the country.
How do I know if I'm one of the 48 million?
The only reliable answer is an audiogram — a 30-minute, painless test performed in a soundproof booth. Screening apps and headphone tests can miss high-frequency loss, which is where age-related decline begins.
Boca Raton · Independent Audiology
Where do your numbers fall?
A comprehensive audiogram with Dr. Zelenko takes about 45 minutes and gives you a personal baseline against the data on this page.
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