DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT:
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Third Edition, 1994
Judith Holt
Sue Hotto
Kevin Cole
Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies
Gallaudet University
- How many persons are deaf or hard-of-hearing in
the U.S.?
- Are state and local estimates of the deaf and
hard-of-hearing population available?
- Of the estimated 20 million persons with hearing
impairment in the U.S., how many are considered to be deaf?
- What is the age distribution of the deaf
population?
- Are males or females more likely to have hearing
impairment?
- Which racial or ethnic groups are more likely to
have hearing impairment?
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by level of education?
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by family income?
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by size of community?
- What is the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing
adults in the labor force?
- What is the age at onset of hearing loss for deaf
and hard-of-hearing persons?
- What are the leading causes of hearing loss for
deaf and hard-of-hearing adults?
- What are the leading causes of hearing loss for
deaf and hard-of-hearing students?
- How has the cause of hearing loss for deaf and
hard-of-hearing students changed in the last 10 years?
Related Literature
- How many persons are deaf or hard-of-hearing in the
U.S.?
The deaf or hard-of-hearing population is estimated by the National
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. According to their 1990 and 1991 Health Interview
Surveys, approximately 20 million persons, or 8.6 percent of the total
U.S. population 3 years and older, were reported to have hearing problems
(Table 1).†
Table 1: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Population |
Number of
hearing impaired |
Percent of
population |
| TOTAL |
235,688,000 |
20,295,000 |
8.6% |
| 3-17 years |
53,327,000 |
968,000 |
1.8% |
| 18-34 years |
67,414,000 |
2,309,000 |
3.4% |
| 35-44 years |
38,019,000 |
2,380,000 |
6.3% |
| 45-54 years |
25,668,000 |
2,634,000 |
10.3% |
| 55-64 years |
21,217,000 |
3,275,000 |
15.4% |
| 65 years & older |
30,043,000 |
8,729,000 |
29.1% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from the National
Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 1, 1994.
The elderly were more likely than any other age group to have hearing
problems (Figure 1). Persons 65 years and older are eight times more
likely to have hearing impairment than persons ages 18-34 (i.e., 3.4
percent of the population ages 18-34 have hearing impairment, compared to
29.1 percent of the population 65 and older).
†Note:
NCHS does not collect data on persons under 3 years of age.
![[Figure 1: Estimate of the prevalence of hearing impairments
by age group, United States, 1990-91]](/images/factsheet/fs_f1.gif)
Although not as detailed as some of the information here, a more
current estimate (2004) can be found under the article How many deaf people are there in the United
States?
Up to list of questions.
- Are state and local estimates of the deaf and
hard-of-hearing population available?
State and local estimates are not available at this time because sample
households in the national surveys are not selected to be representative
of states and localities. This is unfortunate, since the allocation of
resources and administration of services for this population are generally
at the state and local level.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census has not included a question on hearing
impairment since 1930, and no plans have been announced to include a
question in the year 2000. However, beginning in 1995, the National
Center for Health Statistics plans to change the sampling strategy for the
Health Interview Survey to allow some state and regional estimates.
Up to list of questions.
- Of the estimated 20 million persons with hearing
impairment in the U.S., how many are considered to be deaf?
Since there is no legal definition of deafness comparable to the legal
definition of blindness, 'deaf' and 'deafness' can have a variety of
meanings. Table 2 gives the prevalence of deafness based on three
possible descriptions. For example, if deafness is described as the
"inability to hear and understand any speech," there are approximately 550
thousand deaf persons in the U.S. (1/4 of one percent of the U.S.
population).
Table 2: Estimate of the prevalence of Deafness,
by Three Possible Descriptions, United States, 1990-91.
| Description |
Estimated
number |
Percent of
population |
| Deaf, both ears |
421,000 |
0.18% |
| Cannot hear & understand any speech |
552,000 |
0.23% |
| At best, can hear & understand words shouted in the better ear |
1,152,000 |
0.49% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from the National
Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Tables 1, B, C, 1994.
Although not as detailed as some of the information here, a more
current estimate (2004) can be found under the article How many deaf people are there in the United
States?
Up to list of questions.
- What is the age distribution of the deaf
population?
The only age distribution of deafness available is for the population
of persons who, at best, can hear and understand words shouted in the
better ear (Table 3). By other descriptions of deafness, the total deaf
population is too small to obtain a valid estimate of the age
distribution.
Table 3: Estimate of the Prevalence of Deafness*
by Age Group, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Population |
Number with
Deafness |
Percent of
population |
| TOTAL |
235,688,000 |
1,152,000 |
0.49% |
| 3-17 years |
53,327,000 |
52,000 |
0.10% |
| 18-44 years |
105,433,000 |
128,000 |
0.12% |
| 45-64 years |
46,885,000 |
228,000 |
0.49% |
| 65 years & older |
30,043,000 |
744,000 |
2.48% |
* At best, can hear and understand words
shouted in the better ear.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 1, 1994.
Deafness, like all hearing impairment, is more prevalent among the
elderly. Approximately .1 percent of the population under 45 years of age
are deaf, compared to 2.5 percent of the population aged 65 and older.
Up to list of questions.
- Are males or females more likely to have hearing
impairment?
The prevalence of hearing impairment differs according to gender (Table
4). The overall prevalence is 10.5 percent for males and 6.8 percent for
females. While males at all ages are more likely than females to be deaf
or hard-of-hearing, the gap widens after age 18 (Figure 2).
Table 4: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group and Gender, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Male |
Female* |
| TOTAL |
12,002,000 |
8,293,000 |
| 3-17 years |
541,000 |
427,000 |
| 18-44 years |
3,018,000 |
1,672,000 |
| 45-64 years |
3,946,000 |
1,963,000 |
| 65 years & older |
4,497,000 |
4,232,000 |
* Due to rounding, the numbers in this
column do not sum.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 1, 1994.
![[Figure 2: Estimate of the prevalence of hearing impairments
by age group and gender, United States, 1990-91]](/images/factsheet/fs_f2.gif)
Up to list of questions.
- Which racial or ethnic groups are more likely to
have hearing impairment?
Whites are more than twice as likely as Blacks to be deaf or hard-of-
hearing (Table 5). The overall prevalence is 9.4 percent for whites,
compared to 4.2 percent for Blacks.
Table 5: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group and Race, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
White Population |
Prevalence of HI*
White Population |
Black Population |
Prevalence of HI*
Black Population |
| TOTAL |
198,276,000 |
9.4% |
28,753,000 |
4.2% |
| 3-17 years |
42,906,000 |
1.9% |
8,336,000 |
1.2% |
| 18-44 years |
87,878,000 |
4.9% |
13,057,000 |
2.1% |
| 45-64 years |
40,492,000 |
13.4% |
4,825,000 |
7.2% |
| 65 years & older |
27,000,000 |
30.1% |
2,535,000 |
18.7% |
* Hearing Impairment
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 2, 1994.
Non-Hispanics are also more than twice as likely as Hispanics to be
deaf or hard-of-hearing (Table 6). The overall prevalence is 9.1 percent
for non- Hispanics and 4.2 percent for Hispanics.
Table 6: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group and Ethnicity, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Non-Hispanic
Population |
Prevalence of HI
Non-Hispanic
Population |
Hispanic
Population |
Prevalence of HI
Hispanic
Population |
| TOTAL |
211,712,000 |
9.1% |
21,981,000 |
4.2% |
| 3-17 years |
45,495,000 |
1.8% |
7,157,000 |
2.0% |
| 18-44 years |
93,786,000 |
4.6% |
10,921,000 |
2.9% |
| 45-64 years |
43,631,000 |
13.0% |
2,878,000 |
8.4% |
| 65 years & older |
28,800,000 |
29.5% |
1,025,000 |
22.0% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 3, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by level of education?
In the adult population, the prevalence of hearing impairment is
greater for those who are not high school graduates (i.e., have less than
12 years' education) than for high school graduates (Table 7).
Table 7: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments in the Adult Population by Age Group and Years of Education,
United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Total Adult
Population
w/ <12 years
of education |
Prevalence of
HI Population
w/ <12 years
of education |
Total Adult
Population
w/ 12+ years
of education |
Prevalence of
HI Population
w/ 12+ years
of education |
| TOTAL |
38,184,000 |
16.6% |
142,161,000 |
9.0% |
| 18-44 years |
15,517,000 |
5.1% |
89,058,000 |
4.3% |
| 45-64 years |
10,413,000 |
15.4% |
35,855,000 |
11.9% |
| 65 years & older |
12,254,000 |
32.2% |
17,248,000 |
27.2% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 7, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by family income?
The prevalence of hearing impairment at all ages decreases as family
income increases (Table 8). Overall, those with a family income of less
than $10,000 are twice as likely as those with a family income of $50,000
and over to have hearing impairment.
Table 8: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group and Family Income, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
< $10,000 |
$10,000 - $24,999 |
$25,000 - $49,999 |
$50,000 & over |
| TOTAL |
22,630,000
(12.4%) |
54,502,000
(10.7%) |
70,354,000
(7.3%) |
47,328,000
(6.1%) |
| 3-17 years |
5,320,000
(2.7%) |
12,263,000
(2.3%) |
17,297,000
(1.7%) |
10,773,000
(1.5%) |
| 18-44 years |
9,353,000
(5.6%) |
23,068,000
(5.1%) |
34,737,000
(4.7%) |
22,171,000
(3.7%) |
| 45-64 years |
3,057,000
(19.1%) |
8,997,000
(14.6%) |
13,130,000
(13.3%) |
12,181,000
(10.9%) |
| 65 years & older |
4,900,000
(31.8%) |
10,174,000
(30.1%) |
5,190,000
(28.8%) |
2,203,000
(26.2%) |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 4, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- Is there a difference in prevalence of hearing
impairment by size of community?
The prevalence of hearing impairment is greater at all ages among the
population living in rural areas (Table 9). Rural areas are defined as
those outside a metropolitan statistical area (MSA). An MSA consists of a
city having a population of 50,000 or more plus adjacent areas that are
metropolitan in character and are economically and socially integrated
with the central city.
Table 9: Estimate of the Prevalence of Hearing
Impairments by Age Group and Size of Community, United States, 1990-91.
| Age Group |
Population
Living Inside
an MSA |
Prevalence of
HI Inside
an MSA |
Population
Living Outside
an MSA |
Prevalence of
HI Outside
an MSA |
| TOTAL |
184,112,000 |
7.9% |
51,576,000 |
11.1% |
| 3-17 years |
41,255,000 |
1.8% |
12,072,000 |
2.0% |
| 18-44 years |
84,505,000 |
4.2% |
20,929,000 |
5.5% |
| 45-64 years |
36,313,000 |
11.8% |
10,571,000 |
15.4% |
| 65 years & older |
22,039,000 |
27.4% |
8,004,000 |
33.7% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 9, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- What is the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing
adults in the labor force?
Table 10 lists the labor force status of deaf and hard-of-hearing adults.
Of the approximately 8 million deaf and hard-of-hearing adults who were
employed at the time of the survey, 29% listed their occupation as
"professional and managerial," 34% listed it as "sales, service, and
administrative support," and 37% listed it as "other."
Table 10: Estimate of Labor Force Participation
of Adult Population Who Have Hearing Impairments by Age Group,
United States, 1990-91 (N=19,327,000).
| Age Group |
Percent
Employed |
Percent
Unemployed |
Percent Not in
Labor Force |
TOTAL |
| TOTAL |
43.7% |
2.2% |
54.1% |
100% |
| 18-44 years |
78.7% |
4.8% |
16.5% |
100% |
| 45-64 years |
63.8% |
2.9% |
33.3% |
100% |
| 65 years & older |
11.4% |
0.4% |
88.2% |
100% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 5, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- What is the age at onset of hearing loss for deaf
and hard-of-hearing persons?
Of the estimated 20 million deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in the
U.S., approximately 3 out of every 4 persons had onset of hearing loss
after age 18 (Table 11). Less than 1 in 5 reported they had prevocational
hearing loss (i.e. onset before 19 years of age). Approximately 5%
reported prelingual loss (i.e., onset before 3 years of age).
Table 11: Age at Onset of Hearing Loss
for the Estimated Population of Hearing Impaired Persons in
the United States, 1990-91.
| Age at Onset |
Number |
Percent |
| Before 3 years |
1,091,000 |
5.4% |
| 3-18 years |
2,876,000 |
14.2% |
| 19 years and over |
15,484,000 |
76.3% |
| Unknown |
844,000 |
4.1% |
| TOTAL |
20,295,000 |
100.0% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 13, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- What are the leading causes of hearing loss for
deaf and hard-of-hearing adults?
Of the estimated 19 million deaf and hard-of-hearing adults in the
U.S., 33.7% report that their loss is due to some sort of noise (Table
12). Another 28% report that their loss is due to age, while 17.1% report
that it is due to infection or injury. Only 4.4% report the presence of
hearing loss at birth.
Table 12: Reported Etiology of Hearing Loss
in the Adult Population, United States, 1990-91 (N=19,327,000).
| Cause of Hearing Loss |
Percent Due to Cause |
| At birth |
4.4% |
| Ear infection |
12.2% |
| Ear injury |
4.9% |
| Loud brief noise |
10.3% |
| Other noise |
23.4% |
| Getting older |
28.0% |
| Other |
16.8% |
| TOTAL |
100.0% |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Data from
the National Interview Survey,
Series 10, Number 188, Table 13, 1994.
Up to list of questions.
- What are the leading causes of hearing loss for
deaf and hard-of-hearing students?
Etiology information is available for approximately one-half of the
students reported to the 1992-93 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired
Children and Youth, conducted by the Center for Assessment and Demographic
Studies. It is estimated that this survey represents 60-65% of the
population of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the U.S. who receive
special education services.
As shown in Table 13, heredity, at 13%, is the leading known cause of
hearing impairment at birth, followed by pregnancy/birth complications
(including Rh incompatibility, prematurity, and birth trauma) at 8.7%.
Meningitis, at 8.1%, is the leading known cause of hearing impairment
occurring after birth.
Table 13: Reported Etiology of Hearing Loss
by Onset, for the Estimated Population of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Students in the United States, 1992-93 (N=48,300).
| Cause of Hearing Loss |
Percent |
| Onset at birth: |
(47.4%) |
| Maternal rubella |
2.1% |
| Cytomegalovirus |
1.3% |
| Other pregnancy/birth complications
(including Rh incompatibility, prematurity, and birth trauma) |
8.7% |
| Heredity |
13.0% |
| Other causes at birth |
4.5% |
| Cause not known/reported |
17.8% |
| Onset after birth: |
(23.2%) |
| Meningitis |
8.1% |
| Otis media |
3.7% |
| Other infection/fever (including
measles and mumps) |
4.0% |
| Trauma |
0.6% |
| Other cause after birth |
1.5% |
| Cause not known/reported |
5.3% |
| Onset not known/reported |
(29.4%) |
| TOTAL |
100.0% |
Source: 1992-93 Annual Survey of Hearing
Impaired Children and Youth,
Center for Assessment and Demographic
Studies, Gallaudet University.
Up to list of questions.
- How has the cause of hearing loss for deaf and
hard-of-hearing students changed in the last 10 years?
The largest change is for maternal rubella (Table 14). It was the
reported etiology for over 9,000 students in the 1982-83 Annual Survey and
less than 1,000 students in 1992-93. Other reductions in incidence are
noted for pregnancy complications, Rh incompatibility, measles, mumps,
infections, high fever, and trauma. However, in spite of the development
of a vaccine for a leading cause of meningitis (haemophilus influenza,
type B), the incidence of hearing loss due to meningitis has changed very
little. Although cytomegalovirus shows a marked increase, that may be due
to changes in reporting practices rather than changes in the actual
prevalence.
Table 14: Reported Etiology of Hearing Loss
for the Estimated Population of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Students in the United States, 1982-83, 1987-88, 1992-93.
| Cause of Hearing Loss |
1982-83 |
1987-88 |
1992-93 |
| Heredity |
6,390 |
6,063 |
6,324 |
| Maternal rubella |
9,001 |
2,438 |
992 |
| Pregnancy complications |
1,854 |
1,367 |
1,137 |
| Prematurity |
2,225 |
2,244 |
2,238 |
| Rh incompatibility |
792 |
274 |
179 |
| Trauma at birth |
1,350 |
1,151 |
1,176 |
| Meningitis |
4,033 |
4,156 |
3,934 |
| Otis media |
1,667 |
1,613 |
1,782 |
| Measles |
419 |
174 |
132 |
| Mumps |
126 |
48 |
22 |
| Infection |
1,467 |
1,179 |
1,062 |
| High fever |
1,734 |
1,364 |
1,127 |
| Trauma after birth |
438 |
317 |
340 |
| Cytomegalovirus |
Not reported |
337 |
638 |
Source: 1982-83, 1987-88, and 1992-93 Annual Survey of Hearing
Impaired Children and Youth,
Center for Assessment and Demographic
Studies, Gallaudet University.
Up to list of questions.
- Allen, T.E., Lam, K.H., Rawlings, B.W., Rose, D.E., & Schildroth,
A.N. (1994). Young deaf adults and the transition from high school to
postsecondary careers. (Gallaudet Research Institute Occasional Paper
94-1). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
- Brown, S.C. (1990). Older Americans and tinnitus: A demographic
study and chartbook. (Gallaudet Research Institute Monograph Series A,
Number 2). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
- Brown, S.C. (1990). The prevalence of communicative disorders in the
aging population. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Report
19). Rockville, MD: ASHA.
- Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies. (1993). Data from the
1992-93 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth.
Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
- Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies. (1988). Data from the
1987-88 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth.
Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
- Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies. (1983). Data from the
1982-83 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth.
Washington, DC: Gallaudet University.
- Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (1993).
Fifteenth Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of The
Individuals with Disabilities Act. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of
Education.
- Ries, Peter W. (1994).Prevalence and characteristics of persons with
hearing trouble: United States, 1990-91. National Center for Health
Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 10(188).
- Rawlings, B.W., King, S.J., Skilton, J.C., & Rose, D.E. (1993).
Gallaudet University alumni survey, 1993. (Gallaudet Research Institute
and the Office of Institutional Research Report). Washington, DC:
Gallaudet University.
- Schildroth, A.N. (1994). Congenital cytomegalovirus and deafness.
American Journal of Audiology, 2(3), 27-38.
- Schildroth, A.N., & Karchmer, M.A. (Eds.). (1986). Deaf children
in America. San Diego, CA: College-Hill Press.
[Last modified:
2012.03.21 11:55:15. by Kevin Cole]
DISCLAIMER: This website contains documents with terms that may be
considered by today's reader as outdated and even offensive. For
example, the term "hearing impairment" is sometimes used as a category for
levels of hearing loss, such as hard of hearing and deaf. Some people now
see cultural identification and communication preference as defining
characteristics behind terms such as hard of hearing and deaf, and
they do not favor terms conveying medical distinctions and loss. Yet
we recognize that removing and changing terms may alter the precise
meaning of the scientific author. A solution may be found by expanding
the scope of future research to include non-medical perspectives.
