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 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 approximately 1,000 U.S. adults, respondents were asked about the role of hearing in their everyday lives and 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. Another 21% identify safety and awareness of their 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%) and participation in social life (7%)—are viewed as important but less central. Music and entertainment are cited by just 4% of respondents.
Compared with 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 people value hearing, suggesting it contributes not only to social connection but also to personal safety and independence.
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 with 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
Perceptions also vary across age groups. Respondents aged 25–34 are the most likely to emphasize hearing and engaging with loved ones (21%), compared with 14% of respondents aged 55 and older. Conversely, older adults place greater emphasis on mental and emotional wellbeing, with 16% of respondents aged 55 and older identifying it as the most important reason for good hearing, compared with 8% of respondents aged 18–24.
Communication and staying connected remain the leading reasons people value good hearing across every age group, cited by between 38% and 42% of respondents.
No matter their age or where they live, Americans consistently rank communication and staying connected as the most important reason for good hearing.
Views on hearing loss awareness also differ 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 respondents aged 55 and older. Overall, older adults are the most likely to feel public awareness of hearing loss is insufficient.
Regional differences were also observed. Respondents in the South are most likely to emphasize communication and staying connected (44%), while those in the Northeast place the greatest emphasis on safety and awareness of their surroundings (23%). Respondents in the Midwest are the most likely to identify hearing and engaging with loved ones as a key benefit of good hearing (20%, compared with 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, more than 430 million people live with disabling hearing loss, and that number is projected to 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. 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.”
–Dr. Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs at MED-EL
From Awareness to Action
MED-EL encourages people to take a proactive approach to their hearing health through regular hearing checks or simple first steps such as using a free online hearing test. Increasing awareness and understanding of hearing loss can help people remain socially connected and engaged throughout their lives.
Further information and practical insights are available 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).
About MED-EL
MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,300 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 140 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com
