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Demographics & Statistics of Deaf and Hard of Hearing

49 MILLION PEOPLE in the United States have some type of hearing loss. That is approximately 3 TIMES the entire population of Illinois!!


Graphical representation of US hearing loss to 3 times illinois population

Did you know...

  1. In Illinois, approximately 180,000 newborn babies have their hearing screened each year. 
    Governor Quinn’s 2013 Early Hearing and Intervention Day Proclamation

  2. In Illinois, nearly 500 children are identified with a hearing loss each year.
    Governor Quinn’s 2013 Early Hearing and Intervention Day Proclamation

  3. Hearing loss can happen anytime during life from before birth to adulthood.
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Facts

  4. 50 – 60% of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes. 
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  Data & Statistics

  5. In the United States, approximately 2 of every 100 newborns fail the hearing screening. 
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  Data & Statistics

  6. Hearing loss is the third most common physical health condition after arthritis and heart disease. 
    Hearing Loss Association of America  

Hearing Loss Statistics

​
          GENERAL POPULATION*​ ANY TYPE OF HEARING LOSS
(from mild to severe) 16%**​		     DEAF/SEVERE HEARING LOSS 3%***​
UNITED STATES 308,746,000 49,399,360 9,262,380
ILLINOIS 12,831,000 2,052,960 384,930
ILLINOIS 10 LARGEST COUNTIES:

COOK 5,194,675 831,148 155,840
DUPAGE 916,924 146,708 27,508
LAKE 703,462 112,554 21,104
WILL 677,560 108,410 20,327
KANE 515,269 82,443 15,458
MCHENRY 308,760 49,402 9,263
WINNEBAGO 295,266 47,243 8,858
ST CLAIR 270,056 43,209 8,102
MADISON 269,282 43,085 8,078
CHAMPAIGN 201,081 32,173 6,032

 U.S Census Bureau- Americans with Disabilities: 2010

**U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_252.pdf

***American Community Survey (ACS) (2011 Disability Status Report) www.disabilitystatistics.org)

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​Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
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Springfield, Illinois 62701
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