Hearing loss, the number one disability in the world, is commonly associated with exposure to excessive or chronic noise. Consider the following:

• Nearly 55 million Americans suffer from hearing loss to some degree.
• Hearing loss is the most prevalent and the most preventable disability in the world.
• According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 15% of children experience aural impairment in one or both ears.
• Nearly 90% of people over the age of 80 suffer from hearing loss.
• Three out of every 100 school-aged children are hearing impaired.
• Sixty percent of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are hearing impaired.
• Baby-boomers are the fasting growing population in America and are experiencing hearing loss at an alarming rate.

Poor acoustic conditions can compound existing noise problems, contributing to hearing loss.