Statistics on Hearing Loss in Illinois
There are no valid statistics available on the number of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission compiled the following information using a national average estimated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services at 8.6 percent and statistical information developed by the Gallaudet University Research Institute, Demographic Aspects of Hearing Impairment: Questions and Answers (Third Edition, 1994) which is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Prevalence and Characteristics of Persons with Hearing Trouble: United States, 1990-1991 (Data From the National Health Interview Survey, Series 10, Number 188).
According to the 2000 United States Census, the population of the State of Illinois is 12,419,293 people and individuals with hearing loss: 1,068,059 (8.6% of the population)
| Age Group |
Population Within Group |
Number of Hearing Loss |
Percent of Population |
| 3-17 yrs |
2,724,901 |
49,049 |
1.8% |
| 18-34 yrs |
3,022,572 |
102,768 |
3.4% |
| 35-44 yrs |
1,983,870 |
124,984 |
6.3% |
| 45-54 yrs |
1,626,742 |
167,555 |
10.3% |
| 55-64 yrs |
1,040,633 |
161,299 |
15.5% |
| 65+ yrs |
1,500,035 |
436,511 |
29.1% |
Illinois Estimated Hard of Hearing/Deaf Population 2000-2025
|
|
2000
|
2005
|
2015
|
2025
|
|
Total IL Residents
|
12,419,293
|
12,314,000
|
12,945,000
|
13,717,000
|
|
Hard of Hearing/Deaf
|
1,068,059
|
1,059,004
|
1,113,270
|
1,179,662
|
|
Hard of Hearing
|
1,043,220
|
1,034,376
|
1,087,380
|
1,152,228
|
|
Deaf*
|
111,773
|
110,826
|
116,505
|
123,453
|
Illinois Estimated Hard of Hearing/Deaf Population by Age 2000-2020
|
|
2000
|
2005
|
2015
|
2020
|
|
Total 45-64 Residents
|
2,667,355
|
2,647,510
|
2,783,175
|
2,918,928
|
|
Ages 45-64 years
|
342,755
|
340,205
|
357,637
|
251,028
|
|
Total 65+ Residents
|
1,500,025
|
1,489,994
|
1,566,345
|
1,595,060
|
|
Ages 65+ years
|
436,507
|
433,588
|
455,806
|
137,175
|
Illinois 10 Largets Counties Estimated Hard of Hearing/Deaf Population 2000
|
|
Out of
|
Hard of Hearing/Deaf
|
|
Cook
|
5,376,741
|
462,400
|
|
DuPage
|
904,161
|
77,758
|
|
Lake
|
664,356
|
55,415
|
|
Will
|
502,266
|
43,195
|
| Kane |
404,119
|
34,754
|
| Winnebago |
278,418
|
23,944
|
| McHenry |
260,077
|
22,367
|
| Madison |
258,941
|
22,269
|
| St. Clair |
256,082
|
22,023
|
| Sangamon |
188,951
|
16,250
|
Estimated Hard of Hearing/Deaf Population 1995
|
|
Cook County
|
Sangamon County
|
|
Total Residents
|
5,135,265
|
184,686
|
|
Hard of Hearing/Deaf
|
441,663
|
15,883
|
|
Hard of Hearing
|
431,362
|
15,514
|
|
Deaf*
|
46,217
|
1,662
|
Estimated Hard of Hearing/Deaf Population 2000
|
|
Chicago
|
Springfield
|
|
Total Residents
|
2,896,016
|
111,454
|
|
Hard of Hearing/Deaf
|
249,057
|
9,585
|
|
Hard of Hearing
|
243,265
|
9,362
|
|
Deaf*
|
26,064
|
1,003
|
*Percentage includes individuals who are deaf in both ears, those who cannot hear and understand any speech and those who at best can hear and understand words shouted in the better ear.
Quick Facts
- One (1) in every one thousand (1000) infants is born deaf.
- One (1) in every one thousand (1000) infants has a hearing loss significant enough to make speaking difficult.
- Approximately three (3) out of every one thousand (1,000) infants are hard-of-hearing.
- Approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18 have hearing loss.
- One (1) in every three (3) people over age 60 has a hearing loss.
- Half of those older than 85 have hearing loss.
- Approximately 90 percent of infants who are born deaf are born to hearing parents.
- More than half of all hearing loss is believed to have genetic cause(s).
- Hearing loss can result from disease, trauma, or long-term exposure to damaging noise or ototoxic medications.
- Approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have hearing loss.