Normal hearing depends on the health of a person's:

• Ear
• Nerves that carry sound from the ear to the brain
• Brain

The ear turns sounds into signals. The nerves carry those signals to the brain. The brain helps a person understand what they hear.

How Common is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is the third most common long-term health problem in older adults, after heart disease and arthritis. About one in four adults over age 60 has hearing loss you can measure. That number goes up to half of all adults over age 70, and up to 80% of adults over age 80.

Hearing loss often happens slowly. Many people do not know how much hearing they have lost. But others around them may notice the problem.

Many people think hearing loss is just a normal part of aging. But it can seriously affect a person's quality of life.

Hearing loss can cause a person to feel lonely, depressed, or confused. It can also lead to falls and cognitive decline.
 

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026 
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers