October is Audiology Awareness Month! What better way to celebrate than by caring for your hearing health? To inspire you, we explain the history of audiology awareness month, hearing loss statistics and what you can do to protect your hearing below.
The History of Audiology Awareness Month
Audiology Awareness Month was established in 2008 by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). Their goal is to promote public awareness of hearing loss induced by noise as well as how to prevent it and protect our hearing.
About the American Academy of Audiology
AAA serves as a collective voice within the field of audiology. It is the world’s largest professional organization of, by and for audiologists. The Academy is committed to advancing the science, practice and accessibility of hearing and balance health care, and their mission is to provide quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research and increased public awareness of hearing and balance disorders.
Statistics About Hearing Loss
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders shares the following statistics about hearing loss:
- Nearly 37.5 million American adults, or 15% of the population, report some trouble hearing.
- About 30 million people in the United States ages 12 and older, or 13% of the population, have hearing loss in both ears based on standard hearing exams.
- Approximately 2% of American adults ages 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss; this increases to 8.5% for adults ages 55 to 64, 25% for adults ages 65 to 74 and 50% for adults 75 and older.
- More than 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids.
- Between two and three out of every 1,000 babies are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.
- Around 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Hearing
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion young adults worldwide are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. Protect your hearing by:
- Following the 60/60 rule when you’re listening to music or other media through headphones or earbuds. It states that you should listen at no more than 60% of the device’s maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
- Wearing hearing protection when working in a noisy environment, enjoying loud hobbies or attending events at Ball Arena.
To learn more about audiology, such as the benefits of hearing aids, or to schedule an appointment, call Advantage ENT & Audiology today.
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