The likelihood that one will be diagnosed with impaired hearing increased with a fall in educational attainment and incomes. In this survey that was mainly targeting Hispanic Americans, it was found that older men do face a much higher risk of hearing loss. The team of researchers was led by Karen Cruickshank’s who works at University of Wisconsin in Madison. During the research, data was tracked from a survey that comprised over 16,400 Hispanics who were aged between 18 and 74 years of age in Chicago, New York, San Diego and Miami. During the investigation, it was found that about 15% of them had hearing impairment while over 8% of them were diagnosed with a lost hearing ability in both ears.

Risk factors for hearing loss

Generally speaking, men and adults who were aged above 45 years were found to have relatively higher hearing impairment rates, as it was reported by Cruckshank with his team. It was reported that those with low educational level and incomes faced higher odds of impaired hearing as showed by the survey. Other factors that were also found to play a role in the loss of hearing were such as noise exposure, pre-diabetes and diabetes.

According to experts, this study did a great job of highlighting the serious threat faced by the Hispanic populations as far as loss of hearing is concerned as well as the possible ways in which this loss of hearing could be prevented. Among the things that tend to promote good health of hearing are such as nutrition, good health care as well as a safe working environment. The researchers said that it is a very important consideration for health care to treat hearing impairment, particularly for Hispanic Latino population. This will hopefully go a long way in translating to improved hearing impairment screen among the general population.

Potential of hearing loss based on ethnic backgrounds

It was also found that Hispanic men also faced a special risk as well. For those who were aged at least 45 years, hearing impairment rates were about 28% for men having Dominican background and 41% for the Puerto Rican men. Women that had Mexican background were found to have about 18% while those women having a mixed Hispanic background were found to have about 13 percent. Whether or not genetics play any role in this is not yet clear as noted by another expert who was not involved in the study.

The researchers also said that as per the study, they found that many people having hearing problems simply decided to put up with it and were used to dealing with the condition. One thing that is known too well is that about 40 million Americans can really benefit a lot from hearing deficits even though the cost of the gadgets is quite a big barrier.