The Hearing Loop @loop_hearing

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss.

Hearing loss can be genetic—roughly 30 to 50 percent of hearing loss is due to genetic factors.

There are smartphone apps and online hearing tests that allow you to control your hearing aids and further personalize your listening experience.

Over 28 million adults in the US could benefit from wearing hearing aids, but only one-fourth of those people actually use hearing aids.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) purchases one-fifth of the hearing aids sold annually.

On average, people with hearing loss wait about seven years before seeking help—don’t let it get to that point!

Certain foods can help combat hearing loss and promote good hearing health, such as bananas, salmon, and broccoli.

Wearing hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in those with hearing loss. Research suggests that cognitive decline is sped up by social isolation and lack of communication, common results of hearing loss.

Many tech startups are now focusing on “hearables”—technology specifically focused to enhance auditory experiences. One of the most innovative items are earbuds that can customize your environmental sound.

Ears are not just for hearing: the vestibular system in your inner ear is responsible for balance and spatial orientation.

There are tiny hairs in your ears that play a huge part in the hearing process. These tiny hairs are sensorineural cells, and damage to them means damage to your hearing because they do not grow back.

Hearing loss is the most common disability caused by military combat. Roughly 400,000 post-9/11 veterans have reported hearing loss or tinnitus.

There are quite a few noteworthy people in music, movies, and media who suffer from hearing loss: Barbra Streisand, Bill Clinton, Halle Berry, and Stephen Colbert, to name a few.

Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the US, after arthritis and heart disease.

One-third of people age 65 or older have some sort of hearing loss, normally due to either long-term exposure to noise or age-related hearing loss.

More than 90% of deaf children have hearing parents.

Noise is the leading cause of hearing loss. Excessive noise in the workplace is a crucial factor of noise-induced hearing loss, with many people being exposed to loud noises every day for years.