Hearing Loss For DummiesSimple steps to hear betterand live better Hearing naturally declines over time, even for those of us who didnt attend loud concerts or crank up the volume in our earbuds. Nearly 20 percent of Americans have hearing loss, and for those 60 and older, that spikes to 50 percent. Too many of us neglect our hearing, and when we do, we can miss out on conversations, lose connections, and increase our risk for falls, loneliness, depression, cognitive