- More Americans believe awareness of hearing loss is lacking (48%) than sufficient (29%).
- More than 1 in 5 Americans associate hearing with safety and awareness of their surroundings.
- Young adults are especially likely to associate good hearing with hearing and engaging with loved ones.
July 20, 2026 – (Innsbruck, Austria): Hearing plays a fundamental role in everyday life, helping people stay connected, safe, and engaged with the world around them. Yet despite its importance, fewer than 3 in 10 Americans believe society knows enough about hearing loss. A new survey*, conducted by MED-EL, a global leader in hearing implant solutions, reveals a clear gap between how strongly people in the United States value hearing and how little they believe hearing loss is understood.
Connection Comes First
In a nationwide survey of around 1,000 people in the United States, respondents were asked about the role of hearing in their everyday lives, as well as whether they believe society is sufficiently informed about hearing loss.
The results show that communication remains the primary reason people value good hearing. More than 4 in 10 respondents (41%) say the most important reason for good hearing is the ability to communicate and stay connected with others. A further 21% identify safety and awareness of surroundings as the primary benefit of hearing, while 16% emphasize hearing and engaging with loved ones.
Other aspects – such as mental and emotional wellbeing (11%) or participation in social life (7%) – are seen as relevant but less central. Music and entertainment are mentioned by just 4% of respondents.
Compared to global findings, Americans are more likely to associate hearing with safety and awareness of their surroundings (21% vs. 15% globally). At the same time, communication and staying connected remains the dominant reason for good hearing. These findings suggest that hearing is valued not only as a means of connection, but also as an important contributor to personal safety and independence in everyday life.
Awareness Lags Behind Importance
Despite the importance of hearing in everyday life, awareness of hearing loss remains surprisingly low. Fewer than 3 in 10 respondents (29%) believe society knows enough about hearing loss, while nearly half (48%) say awareness is lacking and almost one quarter (24%) are unsure.
Compared to global results, Americans are more likely to say societal awareness of hearing loss is insufficient (48% vs. 41% globally) and less likely to believe society knows enough about the condition (29% vs. 33%).
The findings suggest that while hearing is widely recognized as essential to daily life, understanding of hearing loss and its impact remains limited.
Demographic Details
The data also show that perceptions shift across life stages. The strongest emphasis on hearing and engaging with loved ones is found among respondents aged 25–34 (21%), compared with 14% among those aged 55 and over. In contrast, older adults place greater emphasis on mental and emotional wellbeing: 16% of respondents aged 55 and over identify this as the most important reason for good hearing, compared with 8% of those aged 18–24.
Communication and staying connected with others remain the dominant reasons people value good hearing across all age groups, cited by between 38% and 42% of respondents across all age groups.
Views on hearing-loss awareness also vary by age. Four in ten respondents (40%) aged 18–24 believe society does not know enough about hearing loss, compared with more than half (56%) of those aged 55 and over. Overall, older adults are the most likely to feel that public awareness of hearing loss is insufficient.
Regional differences are visible across the United States, although communication remains the dominant reason for good hearing across all regions. Respondents in the South are most likely to emphasize communication and staying connected with others (44%), while those in the Northeast place the greatest emphasis on safety and awareness of their surroundings (23%). Meanwhile, respondents in the Midwest are most likely to identify hearing and engaging with loved ones as a key benefit of good hearing (20% versus 16% nationally).
A Gap with Real Consequences
The gap between the importance of hearing and awareness of hearing loss has real implications. Hearing loss is often invisible, and a lack of understanding can lead to misunderstandings, reduced participation, and social isolation – making it harder for people to stay connected and engaged in everyday life. Globally, the scale of the issue is significant: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 430 million people live with disabling hearing loss, and this number could rise to nearly 700 million by 2050.
The findings of the MED-EL survey reveal a clear disconnect: People recognize how important hearing is in their own lives, yet many believe society still does not know enough about hearing loss. “People clearly understand how important hearing is for everyday life,” says Dr. Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs at MED-EL. “At the same time, awareness of hearing loss remains limited. Closing this gap is key to ensuring that people can continue to fully participate in everyday life.”
From Awareness to Action
MED-EL encourages people to take a proactive approach to their hearing health – whether through regular hearing checks or simple first steps like using a free online hearing test. Increasing personal awareness and understanding of hearing loss is an important step towards maintaining a social life and engaging with others.
Further information and practical insights can be found on the MED-EL website.
*The results presented here relate to the United States and are based on a March 2026 online survey conducted by Research Without Barriers among 1,003 adults in the United States, as part of a broader study across ten countries (total sample: 10,039).
