1 in 10 Minnesotans experiences hearing loss according to study
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One in 10 Twin Cities residents — an estimated 363,116 people — experience at least mild hearing loss, a recent study seeking to estimate the condition's prevalence found.
Why it matters: Hearing loss can have a profound — and costly — impact on a person's life, especially when it goes untreated.
The big picture: The federally funded and peer-reviewed study from nonpartisan research group NORC at the University of Chicago found that more than 1 in 9 Americans experience at least mild hearing loss in both ears, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report.
- The condition is closely tied to age: an estimated 8.9% of Americans ages 35-64 experience hearing loss, compared to 72.7% of those age 75 or older.
Yes, but: Other factors also play a role. Hearing loss is more prevalent in rural areas, per the study.
- It's unclear exactly why that's the case, but exposure to factory or farming equipment could be contributing.
- In some Greater Minnesota counties, it was estimated to be as high as 25% — more than double the rate in much of the metro.
Between the lines: Race and gender are also factors, with white, non-Hispanic people suffering hearing loss at a rate more than two times higher than Black people.
- Men are also slightly more likely than women to experience it.
Zoom in: Minnesota is home to several companies working to address the issue via hearing aid devices and technologies.
- Local major players in the space include White Bear Lake's Envoy Medical, Eden Prairie's Starkey HearCare, and Bloomington-based Resound.
Go deeper: Check out the national map below. You can also read more about the study's results at Sound Check, a snazzy website built around its findings.
