Hearing Loss in Canada: The Numbers That Might Surprise You (2026)

Most people assume hearing loss is something that happens to other people, later in life. The data tells a very different story. Here are the numbers from recent national measurements, and why they matter for you and your family.

The big picture

• About 60% of Canadian adults have measured hearing loss, tinnitus, or both.
• Roughly 4.6 million Canadians aged 20 to 79, about 19%, have measured hearing loss.
• Around 8.4 million people, about 35% of adults, have some high-frequency hearing loss, the kind that makes consonants and speech in noise harder to catch.

It climbs with age, but starts early

Measured hearing loss by age group:

• 15 to 24: about 1.5%
• 25 to 44: about 2.4%
• 45 to 64: about 5.4%
• 65 and over: about 13.6%
• 70 to 79: around 65% show loss across the key frequencies

The takeaway is that hearing changes often begin quietly in your 40s and 50s, long before most people think to get checked.

Most people do not know they have it

This is the number that surprises everyone. An estimated 77% of adults with hearing loss, about 6.3 million people, are unaware of it. Fewer than 4% of adults actually report having any hearing difficulty. Because hearing fades gradually, your brain adapts, and the change slips by until family members are the ones asking you to turn the TV down.

Tinnitus is common too

• About 37% of adults, roughly 9.2 million Canadians, experienced tinnitus in the past year.
• Around 7% deal with tinnitus that genuinely bothers them.

If you have ringing or buzzing in your ears, you are far from alone. Our guide on managing tinnitus covers what actually helps.

Noise is everywhere

In one survey, 85% of men and 70% of women reported exposure to loud noise in the past year, from work, tools, concerts, or hobbies. Noise damage adds up over a lifetime and does not heal, which is why protection and regular checks matter.

What this means for you

If you are over 45, or you have spent time around loud noise, a baseline hearing test is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term health. It is painless, takes under an hour, and you do not need a referral. The earlier a change is caught, the easier it is to stay connected to the people and moments that matter.

Book a hearing test with our registered audiologist at either Edmonton clinic or our Calgary location.