It’s well-known that hearing loss affects millions of Americans.
What’s less well-known is that it affects men at a much higher rate than women.
About twice as much, from the ages of 20-69 says epidemiologist Howard Hoffman with the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Between the ages of 70 and 80, men still have higher rates of hearing loss, and after the age of 80, hearing loss is equally prevalent in both genders.
The conclusion is clear: working-aged men have worse hearing than their female counterparts, independent of aging and chronic conditions like hypertension. One possible explanation is that men are more than twice as likely to have prolonged loud noise exposure – think jobs like construction – than their female counterparts.
Despite this, among younger people with hearing loss, women are more likely than men to wear hearing aids – perhaps there isn’t the same desire to be “macho” or have to prove themselves with sensory prowess. After the age of 70, however, men are about 50% more likely than their female peers to use hearing aids.
Any person suffering from hearing loss, at any age, should strongly consider an appropriate hearing aid. With advancements in technology making them comfortable and nearly invisible, there’s no reason not to.
