Hearing Loss in Adults

Facts About Hearing

  • Statistics show that 1 in 6 Australians have some form of hearing loss. For people over 51 years, this increases to 1 in 3. This increases still to 3 in 4 for people aged over 70 years.
  • Many “Baby-Boomers” already have hearing losses due to exposure from work and/or loud music from a misspent youth.
  • Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common complaint of older adults.
  • Rock concerts produce sounds loud enough to cause permanent damage within 2-3 hours.
  • 90% of hearing losses can be helped with the use of hearing aids. 10% are helped by surgery or medical treatment.
  • For more information visit deafness forums including Deafness Forum of Australia (DFA), Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH), Audiological Society of Australia (ASA) & Better Hearing Australia (BHA).

Signs & Symptoms

Discuss a hearing assessment with your doctor if you feel some of the following comments relate to you:

  • The TV or radio sound muffled.
  • You are not feeling confident communicating at parties and social engagements.
  • You have ringing or noises in your ears or head.
  • Conversations are hard to follow especially in background noise.
  • You feel many people are mumbling and not speaking clearly (especially women and children).
  • Friends or family are commenting on your hearing difficulties.

Hearing loss is usually gradual, partial, painless and invisible. That is why it is easy for a person with early onset hearing loss to believe there is no problem.