When it comes to hearing loss demographics, there are plenty of stereotypes and misconceptions to go around—hearing loss is only for the elderly; the young, conversely, are not susceptible to loss, etc. However, one stereotype has some truth to it, which is of particular note with Father’s Day right around the corner: Men have hearing loss at a much higher rate than women.
In fact, the hearing health gender gap in the United States is so wide between men and women that men are 1.6 times more likely to report hearing loss than women.
Though the exact reason for this gap is unknown, due to the fact that both men’s and women’s ears are anatomically the same, the consensus among the hearing health community is that environmental factors are at play. Men currently make up a larger fraction of the workforce in jobs such as construction, factories and military roles. Additionally, men are more likely to take up high-noise hobbies, like motorcycling and hunting.
Most people wait, on average, up to a decade to do anything about their hearing loss diagnosis. This, coupled with potential resistance to wearing hearing aids due to the stigmas associated with them, means that men may be more susceptible to the risks associated with hearing loss.
Of course, the fortunate thing is that when caught early, hearing devices and other hearing health strategies can dramatically improve a patient’s healthy hearing outlook, as well as their lifestyle.
Thus, men, if you’re interested in closing the gap between men and women in hearing health or simply want to get proactive about communicating effectively, a little awareness goes a long way.
Are you experiencing symptoms related to hearing loss? You may benefit from a hearing test and consultation. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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