Interactive, county-by-county US map reveals where hearing loss is most common ... trends now
An interactive map has revealed the US counties where hearing loss is more common for the first time, producing surprising results.
Contrary to popular belief, it shows that people living in rural areas are up to twice as likely to be suffering from hearing loss as their fellow Americans who live in urban areas.
The study estimated that in swathes of rural New Mexico, Texas and Oregon up to one in three people aged five years and over were suffering from the condition — which is diagnosed when someone is struggling to hear lower sounds such as rustling leaves and buzzing mosquitoes.
The University of Chicago researchers believe rural Americans are more likely to be exposed to loud noises from farming equipment and guns, which could damage their hearing.
It comes despite previous research indicating that up to nine in ten city dwellers are at risk of hearing loss due to the high volume of traffic, bars and nightclubs.
The above map shows the proportion of people estimated to have hearing loss by county
They warned that, overall, their study — based on data from 2015 to 2018 — showed that hearing loss is a widespread problem across the US, with older men most likely to suffer from the condition.
Studies suggest people with the condition are more likely to be depressed and suffer from falls and cognitive decline — which is linked to their inability to hear others and small sounds clearly.
The study used a mathematical model that was based on data on hearing loss from the CDC's annual survey carried out from 2015 to 2018. It was compared to population estimates from 2019.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) interviews a nationally-representative sample of 7,000 people every year on their health — including whether they are suffering from hearing loss.
Dr David Rein, a
