Hearing loss may be defined as not being able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing. Hard of hearing refers to having hearing loss that ranges from mild to severe. A person who is Deaf* may have profound hearing loss, which implies very little or no hearing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 430 million people, or over 5% of the world’s population, have a hearing loss which may require rehabilitation. WHO estimates that one in ten people, or over 700 million people, will have debilitating hearing loss by 2050.
Hearing loss may occur when any part of the ear or auditory system is not working in the usual way, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and may be sudden or gradual. Hearing loss may also occur at any time during a person’s lifetime – from development in the womb to older adults – and can be caused by genetic factors, infections, low-birth weight, aging, trauma to the ear or head, and loud noise, among others. If hearing loss is not addressed, it may impact a person’s communication, cognition, education, and employment. It may also lead to social isolation, loneliness, and stigma.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), treatments for hearing loss will depend on the type and severity of the hearing loss. There are several devices and aids that can improve hearing loss, which may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices (ALDs). ALDs can amplify the sounds a person wants to hear in their environment. They can also connect to alerting devices like a doorbell, telephone, or alarm that emits a loud sound or blinking light to let someone with hearing loss know that an event is taking place. Finally, some people with hearing loss may have a service animal that alerts them to sounds in their environment like alarms and sirens.
NIDILRR funds projects that conduct research and development on hearing loss, technology for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and augmentative and alternative communication. These projects include:
- Research from the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Technology for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing facilitates a shift in the role of technology and addresses the accessibility and usability of technology for consumers who are Deaf or hard of hearing, their families, and friends.
- The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (The RERC on AAC) conducts rigorous evidence-based research and development to design effective AAC technologies and interventions, develops and evaluates innovative AAC engineering solutions driven by consumer needs, and provides comprehensive training and dissemination to ensure that everyone has access to effective AAC to enhance their complex communication needs, including children and adults with developmental, acquired, and severe disabilities.
NARIC’s information specialists searched REHABDATA and found over 1,900 articles on hearing loss from the NIDILRR community and elsewhere. They also found more than 280 articles on hearing loss and technology. Contact NARIC’s information specialists to get more information and resources on hearing loss.
*NARIC uses Deaf in referring to people with deafness. Deaf with a capital D generally refers to a person with hearing loss who identifies with the Deaf community, its use of sign language, and its culture. Not all people with deafness identify as Deaf.
