About 10 percent of Apple Hearing Study participants were diagnosed with hearing loss by a professional. Of these, 75% do not use auxiliary support, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, although such devices can help reduce the impacts of hearing loss.
According to the data collected with the study’s hearing tests, 20% of participants have hearing loss when compared to WHO standards and 10% have hearing loss compatible with exposure to noise.
Almost 50 percent of participants have not had their hearing tested by a professional in at least 10 years. And 25 percent of participants experience ringing in the ears a few times a week or more, which can be a sign of hearing problems. Everyone should have their hearing health checked periodically by a professional.
“One year after the start of the Apple Hearing Study, we generated significant insights into daily noise exposures and the impacts of those exposures on our participants’ hearing. The national scale of this study is unprecedented. We look forward to sharing new scientific discoveries, as well as informing policies to improve and promote hearing health, as the study progresses, ”said Rick Neitzel, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “Even during this pandemic, when many people stay at home, we still see 25% of our participants experiencing high exposure to environmental sounds. The results of this study can improve our understanding of potentially harmful exposures and help identify ways in which people can proactively protect their hearing. ”
How Apple products can help
Apple technology offers broad support to improve hearing health and accessibility with just one touch.