Pennsylvania Demographics

State Population Data

• Total population of state = 12,281,054 (April, 2000, US Census Bureau)
• Number people over 65 = 1,565,834 (12.3%)
• Number of people under 18 = 3,039,560 (24.7%)
• Estimated number of  people with a hearing loss in state = 1,842,158  (15%)
• Aged 45 – 64 = 2,210,590 (18%)
• Aged 65 – 74 = 3,684,316 (30%)
• Aged over 75 = 5,772,096 (47%)
• (based on national data compiled by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIDCD)
• About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in PA are born deaf or hard-of-hearing. Nine out of every 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who can hear.

Some demographic data on HLAA members was derived from national readership surveys of the HLAA Hearing Loss Journal, but we have no reason to believe Pennsylvania numbers would differ significantly.

Age-wise, HLAA membership mirrors the population of people with hearing loss in the United States, approximately 55% are age 61+, 32% age 41-60, 14% age 40 and under. 59% have college or graduate degrees.

Even HLAA members with mild and moderate hearing loss are enthusiastic advocates of hearing aids and other technology. 91% of HLAA members with moderate losses wear hearing aids. 61% of HLAA members with mild losses wear hearing aids, compared with 20% usage among the general population.

49% of HLAA members indicate they use assistive listening devices, such as FM systems, audio loops, infrared, or hard-wired systems. 46% own their own assistive listening devices. Approximately one-fourth of HLAA members use the telephone relay service.

Answers to the Question: How is Your Hearing Loss Characterized?
Severe: 42%; Moderate: 27%; Profound: 26%; Mild: 5%.

 

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