Most people assume hearing loss is something that happens to other people, later in life. The data tells a very different story. Here are the numbers from recent national measurements, and why they matter for you and your family.
The big picture
- About 60% of Canadian adults have measured hearing loss, tinnitus, or both.
- Roughly 4.6 million Canadians aged 20 to 79, about 19%, have measured hearing loss.
- Around 8.4 million people, about 35% of adults, have some high-frequency hearing loss, the kind that makes consonants and speech in noise harder to catch.
It climbs with age, but starts early
Measured hearing loss by age group:
- 15 to 24: about 1.5%
- 25 to 44: about 2.4%
- 45 to 64: about 5.4%
- 65 and over: about 13.6%
- 70 to 79: around 65% show loss across the key frequencies
The takeaway is that hearing changes often begin quietly in your 40s and 50s, long before most people think to get checked.
Most people do not know they have it
This is the number that surprises everyone. An estimated 77% of adults with hearing loss, about 6.3 million people, are unaware of it. Fewer than 4% of adults actually report having any hearing difficulty. Because hearing fades gradually, your brain adapts, and the change slips by until family members are the ones asking you to turn the TV down.
Tinnitus is common too
- About 37% of adults, roughly 9.2 million Canadians, experienced tinnitus in the past year.
- Around 7% deal with tinnitus that genuinely bothers them.
If you have ringing or buzzing in your ears, you are far from alone. Our guide on managing tinnitus covers what actually helps.
Noise is everywhere
In one survey, 85% of men and 70% of women reported exposure to loud noise in the past year, from work, tools, concerts, or hobbies. Noise damage adds up over a lifetime and does not heal, which is why protection and regular checks matter.
Alberta and Edmonton: higher exposure, higher stakes
Alberta’s economy runs on industries where loud noise is part of the job. Oil and gas, heavy construction, manufacturing, and transportation all carry sustained noise levels well above safe thresholds. Edmonton is home to a large concentration of tradespeople, pipeline workers, and heavy equipment operators who face elevated risk.
Hearing loss is one of the most common workplace injuries reported through WCB Alberta. Many workers never file a claim because they assume gradual decline is part of aging, not something connected to decades of occupational noise. If you work in a loud environment in Edmonton or the surrounding area, a baseline hearing test can document where your hearing stands and make it easier to track changes over time.
The health consequences of untreated hearing loss
Hearing loss does not just affect your ears. Research links untreated hearing loss to serious health outcomes:
- Cognitive decline and dementia: Johns Hopkins research found that adults with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia. The risk triples with moderate loss and increases fivefold with severe loss.
- Falls: Adults with even a mild hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history of falling. Reduced spatial awareness and the extra cognitive load of straining to hear both play a role.
- Social isolation and depression: When conversations become exhausting, people withdraw. Untreated hearing loss is strongly associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms, particularly among older adults.
These connections are why the Canadian Academy of Audiology recommends regular hearing assessments as part of preventive health care, not something to consider only after problems become obvious.
Hearing aid adoption in Canada
Despite how common hearing loss is, only about one in six Canadians who could benefit from hearing aids actually uses them. The average person waits seven to ten years after first noticing a change before seeking help. That delay matters because the brain gradually loses its ability to process sounds it no longer hears, making adjustment harder the longer you wait.
Cost is a barrier for many, but Alberta offers several funding options that can help. Veterans, seniors, Indigenous community members, and workers with occupational hearing loss may all have access to coverage that reduces out of pocket costs.
What this means for you
If you are over 45, or you have spent time around loud noise, a baseline hearing test is one of the simplest things you can do for your health. It is painless, takes under an hour, and you do not need a referral. The earlier a change is caught, the easier it is to stay connected to the people and moments that matter.
Book a hearing test with our registered audiologist at either Edmonton clinic or our Calgary location.