Hearing loss is a highly common condition. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report difficulty with hearing (Blackwell et al., 2014). Among the 50 states, California has the greatest number of deaf individuals with approximately 363 thousand adults reporting difficulty with hearing (American Community Survey 2012, United States Census Bureau, Annual Disability Statistics Compendium).

In the last two decades, the internet has proved to be a tremendous resource for the hearing loss population. However, successful search results are highly user-dependent, and, for people with less search experience, time intensive. For many people, navigating through hearing loss resources may be stressful and overwhelming, which is why we created this guide to provide easy access to information on this condition. Using a combination of research, focus groups, and surveys, we included the most relevant and up-to-date information about hearing loss, treatment options, rehabilitation, devices, local/national resources, internet resources, and advice in this book.

While we hope that this book will be a useful resource, it is not intended to replace the experience and interactions between you and your health care providers. If you have any questions regarding your condition, treatment options, support services, or any other related issues, we encourage you to reach out to your provider for more information. 

Co-Editors:

Meredith T. Caldwell & Nicole T. Jiam

Last updated January 2017

Advisor:

Dr. Charles Limb, MD

Grant Support & A Special Thanks To:
Mount Zion Health Fund
 

Acknowledgments:

Our Survey & Focus Group Participants

Hearing Loss Association of America, Northern California Chapters

Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California

Patpong Jiradejvong, MS

Melanie Gilbert, AuD