(NewsFix) Older adults are at high risk of developing hearing loss, according to a new survey.

More than 2.2 million adults over 70 in the US have some degree of hearing loss, making it

one of the most common health problems. Surprisingly, perhaps, few studies have looked at the

actual incidence of hearing loss in the general population.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have looked at the progression of hearing

loss among a group of adults aged 48 to 92 years over a five year period. The group comprised

1,635 people with no hearing loss and 1,085 with some hearing loss. The study revealed that the

risk of developing a hearing loss over five years was 21 per cent. More than half of those who

had hearing loss at the start of the study experienced some further decline in their hearing.

After adjusting for age, the researchers found that for men, the incidence of hearing loss

over five years is 30.7 per cent compared to 17 per cent for women. Given the aging of the

population, it’s clear that hearing loss will become a growing problem and one which merits

further attention.

By: April Clarkson