New HearingLife Survey Finds Hearing Challenges Can Mean Missing the Moments That Matter Most

More than half (52%) of U.S. adults 60 and older say they have missed or struggled to fully experience an important moment because they could not hear clearly

SOMERSET, N.J., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Life gets harder when the world is hard to hear. A conversation with family. An important announcement while traveling. Medical information. A loved one expressing affection. These are the kinds of everyday moments that can become harder to fully experience when hearing becomes difficult. For adults 60 and older, difficulty hearing in a busy restaurant, following a conversation with family or understanding important information in a public space can mean more than missing a few words. It can mean missing a moment – and feeling less connected to the people and experiences around them.

HearingLife, a leader in delivering personalized, expert hearing care, today released the Hearing Experience Index, a national survey exploring how adults ages 60 and older experience hearing challenges in public spaces can affect communication, confidence, connection and participation in everyday life.

Launching at the start of National Audiology Awareness Month, the Hearing Experience Index is intended to encourage broader conversation about hearing and healthy aging.

The findings reveal that hearing difficulty can mean more than missing a few words. Half of U.S. adults ages 60 and older (52%) say they have missed or struggled to fully experience at least one meaningful moment because they could not hear clearly. Among adults who personally experience hearing difficulty, that figure rises to 98%.

"When we can't hear what's happening around us, we can start to miss our place in the moment," says Leslie Soiles, Chief Audiologist, HearingLife. "Hearing is fundamental to how we connect with one another. It allows us to participate in conversations, share experiences and feel present. Making hearing challenges more visible is an important step toward helping people stay connected."

The moments people miss are often the ones that matter most

For adults who personally experience hearing difficulty, some of the most common challenges involve moments central to staying connected and informed.

Among these adults:

• 79% have missed or struggled to fully experience a conversation with a friend or family member because they could not hear clearly.
• 38% have missed or struggled to fully experience an announcement while traveling.
• 30% have missed or struggled to fully experience important medical information.

These experiences can make it harder to participate fully in conversations, social gatherings and other activities that help people feel connected.

Hearing challenges can make everyday connection harder

The research suggests these missed moments are part of a broader experience for many older adults.

Two in three adults ages 60 and older (66%) say they either personally experience difficulty hearing conversations or important sounds in noisy public places or know a family member, friend or loved one who does.

Nearly one in four (22%) say hearing challenges in noisy environments greatly affect their enjoyment of everyday activities. And 67% say noisy environments make socializing stressful, rising to 89% among adults who personally experience hearing difficulty. Respondents also report feeling frustrated, irritated, embarrassed, disengaged, stressed or isolated when they have difficulty hearing.

"Hearing is an important part of healthy aging because it helps us stay engaged with the people, places and experiences around us," said Dr. Ryan Potter, Vice President of Audiology, HearingLife. "These findings show how hearing challenges can affect more than a single conversation, they can shape how confidently and fully people participate in everyday life."

Public spaces can do more to make hearing easier

The survey also points to an opportunity to make everyday environments easier to navigate for people with hearing difficulty.

Nearly three in four adults ages 60 and older (73%) agree that public spaces are not designed with hearing accessibility in mind. Among adults who personally experience hearing difficulty, that rises to 90%.

From restaurants and family gatherings to concerts, sporting events and busy city centers, hearing difficulty can show up across many everyday settings. Awareness of available solutions also remains low: 23% of adults 60 and older are aware that some public venues offer technology designed to improve hearing experiences, and 84% have never used technology or an accommodation to help them hear better in public places.

Making everyday life easier to hear

The findings point to a dual opportunity: venues can make hearing accessibility more visible and available, while individuals can learn more about the tools and accommodations that may make it easier to participate.

HearingLife encourages adults 60 and older — along with the people, communities and organizations around them — to recognize everyday barriers that can make meaningful moments harder to hear. Adults who have difficulty following conversations or hearing important sounds, particularly in noisy environments, are encouraged to speak with a hearing care professional about their hearing health.

Because when the world is easier to hear, it can be easier to stay connected, stay engaged and stay in the moments that matter.

To learn more about the Hearing Experience Index and hearing care resources from HearingLife, visit our Hearing Experience Landing Page.

About the Survey

The Hearing Experience Index is a national survey commissioned by HearingLife to understand how adults ages 60 and older experience hearing challenges in public spaces and how those challenges affect communication, confidence, social connection and participation. The online survey was conducted June 29 through July 27, 2026, among 1,950 U.S. adults ages 60 and older. The study included a nationally representative sample of 750 adults, with additional oversamples in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The margin of error for the national sample is ±3.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

About HearingLife

HearingLife is a national hearing care company and part of the Demant Group, a global leader in hearing healthcare built on a heritage of care, health, and innovation since 1904. HearingLife operates more than 600 hearing care centers throughout the U.S. We follow a scientific, results-oriented approach to hearing healthcare that is provided by highly skilled and caring professionals. Our vision is to help more people hear better through life-changing hearing health delivered by the best personalized care. To learn more, visit hearinglife.com.

SOURCE HearingLife Inc