When Hearing Fades, So Do Connections: MED-EL Survey Reveals the Impact of Hearing Loss on Adults’ Lives

October 1, 2025 – Innsbruck, Austria: Often underestimated and largely ignored, untreated hearing loss is a silent disruptor with profound effects on individuals’ lives – far beyond difficulties with sound. Its impact grows with age: Nearly 1 in 4 people aged 60 and older experience disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), making basic communication and everyday interactions increasingly difficult. A new global survey*, conducted by MED-EL, a leader in hearing loss solutions, uncovers the widespread challenges of untreated hearing loss and highlights the urgent need to prioritize hearing health.

• Hearing loss breaks connection: Almost 1 in 2 say it disrupts conversations with loved ones.
• Confidence and safety suffer: Emotional well-being and daily security are at risk.
• Time to act: MED-EL urges adults to take better care for their hearing health now.
  

More than 10,000 participants across ten countries were asked: “What aspects of daily life do you believe are most affected for adults with untreated hearing loss?” The responses reveal that hearing loss is not simply a medical condition – it is a barrier to how adults live, connect, and age.

Key Findings:

The Human Impact of Hearing Loss

Communication & Social Isolation

• Nearly half of respondents (49%) believe untreated hearing loss most affects conversations with friends and family – the cornerstone of adult connection.
• 27% report difficulties in social gatherings, and 25% struggle in noisy environments – showing how hearing loss can quietly isolate people in everyday life.

Emotional & Mental Well-being

• 41% say hearing loss leads to a loss of self-confidence, 30% point to mental health impacts, and 20% mention increased stress or tiredness – together highlighting how hearing loss can erode emotional resilience.
• Less than 1 in 10 (9%) recognize the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, despite research identifying it as a key modifiable risk factor.

Safety & Independence

• 40% say hearing loss reduces overall quality of life, with the same number reporting difficulties enjoying music or television. 30% highlight challenges at work, and 15% note a decline in hobbies and leisure activities.
• 30% express concerns about missing critical sounds (e.g., alarms, traffic), and 18% emphasize the impact on personal independence – showing how hearing loss can quietly undermine safety and autonomy.

Demographic Trends: Who Feels It Most?

By Age

Respondents aged 55+ most strongly associate untreated hearing loss with communication and quality of life – 58% cite conversations with friends and family, and 48% mention reduced overall well-being. Younger people (18–34) focus more on emotional effects: 43–45% highlight reduced self-confidence, and 33–35% point to mental health concerns. Perceptions of safety risks (rising from 25% to 33%), social difficulties (from 21% to 31%), and challenges in noisy environments (from 20% to 28%) increase steadily with age – reflecting a growing awareness of how hearing loss can compromise independence and daily functioning in adult life.

By Gender

Women are slightly more likely than men to associate untreated hearing loss with communication difficulties (51% vs. 47%) and safety concerns (32% vs. 27%). They also more often point to social impacts, including gatherings (29% vs. 25%) and loss of independence (20% vs. 16%). Men, on the other hand, are marginally more likely to highlight effects on quality of life (41% vs. 39%) and self-confidence (42% vs. 41%).

By Region

France (59%) and Spain (55%) report the highest concern about the impact of hearing loss on conversations, while Romania and Hungary are lowest at 39%. Half of Spanish respondents (50%) also report a strong impact on overall quality of adult life, compared to just 30% in Hungary – the lowest among all countries surveyed. Workplace challenges are especially prominent in Germany (41%) and Brazil (40%), compared to just 18% in Italy and 20% in Belgium. Mental health is a key concern in Brazil (36%) and Germany (35%), but far less so in France and Hungary (24%). Across all countries, only 6–14% of respondents identified dementia as an affected area.

A Call for Awareness: Prioritizing Hearing Health for a Full and Connected Life

“Hearing loss does not just diminish sound – it can decrease quality of life if left untreated,” states Dr. Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs at MED-EL. “This survey reveals just how deeply untreated hearing loss impacts individuals, affecting everything from relationships to independence. The findings are a wake-up call to prioritize hearing health as we age.” As part of its commitment to raising awareness about hearing health, MED-EL urges individuals – especially adults approaching or in retirement – to take action. This group is often overlooked in hearing health conversations. Many remain active, independent, and socially engaged, not identifying with outdated notions of aging. Yet hearing challenges can quietly affect their confidence, relationships, and routines. This life stage brings meaningful transitions – from work to retirement, parenting to grandparenting, and busy schedules to more reflective living. Hearing loss can complicate these moments, making it harder to stay connected and confident. 

Keep Your Hearing Young

Regular hearing checks, accessible solutions, and early intervention are key steps in combating the widespread impacts of untreated hearing loss. MED-EL offers a free hearing test to identify early signs of hearing loss and provides tailored solutions to help individuals regain their connection to the world around them. “Early detection empowers people to take control of their hearing health. The gift of hearing is the gift of staying connected – to conversations, relationships, and independence. It is never too early to take action,” states Dr. D’Haese. MED-EL encourages everyone to start the conversation about hearing health – with loved ones, healthcare providers, and communities. More information about MED-EL and its hearing solutions can be found online on the MED-EL website.


*The online research was carried out in January 2025 by Research Without Barriers in ten countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. Total number of participants = 10,044.

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,000 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 139 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com 

CEO

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

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