U.S. Population Data on Self-Reported Trouble Hearing and Hearing-Aid Use in Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2007-2018.
Larry E Humes
PMID 36947453WHAT IT FOUND
Self-reported trouble hearing is common, affecting 18.5% of men and 13.1% of women, yet only about 20% to 25% of these adults have ever used hearing aids.
This leaves roughly 80% of those with perceived hearing loss with unmet needs.
Key findings
01Self-reported trouble hearing was present in 18.5% of men and 13.1% of women across the study period.
02Only 22.1% of adults with self-reported trouble hearing had ever used hearing aids, leaving the vast majority with unmet needs.
03Perceived trouble hearing was the single strongest predictor of hearing aid use, with an odds ratio of 30 to 35 compared to other factors.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-reported hearing status and hearing aid use, without objective audiometric confirmation. Data on hearing aid usage frequency (hours per day or days per week) were not available, so 'current use' may include infrequent or non-optimal use. The survey questions were consistent from 2007 to 2018, but the NHIS was redesigned in 2019, limiting comparisons to more recent data. Prevalence estimates from this NHIS data are lower than those from NHANES data for the same period, suggesting survey method differences affect reported rates.
Declared interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that hearing aid use reflects adequate treatment. The study defines 'current use' simply by a yes/no answer to whether the person uses a hearing aid, without data on how often or how well it is used. Many people classified as users may have unmet needs due to infrequent use or poor fit.