Hearing health in the Hispanic/Latino community: Gaps and opportunities

Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions affecting Americans. However, access to proper hearing care isn’t distributed equally. Among the communities most impacted are Hispanic/Latino populations, a rapidly growing and diverse demographic in the U.S. that faces multiple barriers to hearing health care.

For this article, “Hispanic/Latino” refers broadly to people of diverse national origins, racial backgrounds, and cultures who identify with one or both terms. This inclusive approach reflects public health reporting and respects the community’s diversity.

Why focus on this community

Hispanic/Latino communities are among the fastest-growing in the U.S., projected to make up nearly 30% of the population by 2060¹. Yet several recent studies show clear disparities in hearing health and device access. Spotlighting these gaps helps raise awareness, connect individuals to support, and inform equity-driven solutions.

The urgency is amplified by demographic trends: The Hispanic/Latino population is aging, with the number of adults aged 65 and older expected to quadruple by 2060². Because age is one of the strongest predictors of hearing loss, this shift means a growing number of older Hispanic/Latino adults could be living with untreated hearing conditions.

Understanding the disparity

A 2024 JAMA Health Forum study found that just 5% of Hispanic seniors with hearing loss use hearing aids, compared to 22% of white seniors living below the poverty line³. A 2019 JAMA Otolaryngology study also found only 4.6% of older Hispanic/Latino adults reported hearing aid use, with access to health insurance emerging as a primary facilitator⁴.

Key drivers include:

• Language and cultural barriers, which disrupt communication, reduce comprehension, and delay care-seeking⁵
  
  
• Healthcare access issues, especially lack of insurance or underinsurance⁴
  
  
• Economic constraints making devices prohibitively expensive³
  
  
• Geographic disparities with many Hispanic/Latino communities in rural or underserved urban areas lacking local audiologists or hearing specialists⁶

These barriers often interact. For example, a lack of insurance can make hearing aids unaffordable, while language barriers prevent patients from navigating coverage options.

The ripple effects of untreated hearing loss

Hearing care is about more than hearing. It’s about well-being and opportunity.

• Among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults, hearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline—researchers found their processing speed declined over seven years at a rate similar to what would normally be expected over twelve years of aging⁷.
  
  
• Untreated hearing loss is associated with higher risks of depression, social isolation, and diminished quality of life⁸.
  
  
• For working-age adults, hearing challenges can limit job opportunities, lower earnings, and increase workplace safety risks⁹.
  
  
• In children, even mild hearing loss can impair language development and academic performance, potentially affecting long-term educational attainment¹⁰.

When these effects are multiplied across a large and growing community, the social and economic costs become substantial—not just for individuals and families, but for society more broadly.

The human context

Quantitative data tell part of the story, but lived experiences reveal the depth of the challenge. Research shows Hispanic/Latino adults often face systemic communication gaps: a shortage of Spanish-speaking providers, culturally unsuitable health messaging, and limited health literacy on hearing care topics¹¹. These factors can lead to mistrust and hesitation to seek help¹².

Cultural perceptions also influence care-seeking behavior. In some cases, hearing loss is considered a normal part of aging and not a medical issue that could be improved¹¹. In others, concerns about the appearance of hearing aids, especially among younger adults, can be a barrier to adoption¹².

Opportunities for greater impact

Closing the hearing health gap for Hispanic/Latino individuals requires coordinated action across healthcare, policy, and community sectors. Strategies include:

• Culturally tailored outreach—partnering with community centers, schools, and faith institutions to share information in culturally relevant ways⁵
  
  
• Enhanced language access, increasing the number of providers fluent in Spanish and ensuring that educational materials are available in multiple dialects¹¹
  
  
• Policy advocacy, expanding insurance coverage and creating subsidy programs to reduce cost barriers³
  
  
• Community-based screenings—hosting events in neighborhoods where care is limited, helping detect hearing loss early and connect people to services⁶
  
  
• Technology-enabled solutions, such as tele-audiology, to serve rural or mobility-limited patients¹³

The Miracle-Ear Foundation addresses many of these barriers directly through the Gift of Sound™ program, which provides hearing aids and follow-up care for individuals who qualify. By combining low-cost, high-quality technology, bilingual support, and local partnerships, the Foundation is helping close access gaps for underserved communities.

The role of education and prevention

While hearing aids and medical interventions are essential for those with existing hearing loss, prevention is equally critical. Public health campaigns tailored for Hispanic/Latino audiences can promote:

• Safe listening habits to prevent noise-induced hearing loss
  
  
• Regular hearing screenings for at-risk age groups
  
  
• Awareness of early signs of hearing loss and the importance of seeking care promptly

Evidence from other public health efforts suggests that culturally specific messaging, delivered by trusted community leaders, significantly increases engagement and health outcomes¹⁴.

A broader call for equity

While this article focuses on the Hispanic/Latino population, hearing health disparities affect many underserved groups. Closing these gaps requires a holistic approach that combines cultural competence, policy reform, and expanded access to affordable care.

Initiatives like our Miracle Missions, which bring the Gift of Sound™ to communities with limited access to hearing health care, show what’s possible when care is designed around the needs of the communities it serves. By removing financial and language barriers, partnering with local volunteers and organizations, and spreading awareness of hearing care issues, these initiatives help more people access life-changing care.

This is how we move closer to our vision—a future where millions of people living with unresolved hearing loss no longer see financial insecurity as a barrier to living a fuller life with hearing aids.

References

1. Pew Research Center. (2022). Hispanic population growth and demographics. https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/
   
   
2. U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). Older Hispanic population to quadruple by 2060. https://www.census.gov/
   
   
3. Bessen, S. et al. (2024). Hearing aid use at the intersection of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. JAMA Health Forum. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.3854
   
   
4. Arnold, M. L. et al. (2019). Hearing aid prevalence and factors related to use among older adults from the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2019.0433
   
   
5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Hearing health care for adults: Priorities for improving access and affordability. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23446
   
   
6. Prendergast, S. et al. (2021). Access to hearing health care in rural and underserved communities. American Journal of Audiology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJA-20-00212
   
   
7. Sorensen, S. et al. (2024). Hearing loss and associated 7-year cognitive outcomes among Hispanic and Latino adults. JAMA Otolaryngology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2024.0184
   
   
8. Cosh, S. et al. (2018). The relationship between hearing loss in older adults and depression over 12 years: Findings from the three-city study. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx250
   
   
9. Tufts, J. B. et al. (2015). Perceived workplace performance limitations of adults with hearing loss. Ear and Hearing. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000152
   
   
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Hearing loss in children. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/index.html
    
    
11. Ríos, S. M. et al. (2022). Hispanic/Latino perspectives on hearing loss and hearing healthcare. Ear and Hearing. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001268
    
    
12. Caballero, T. M. et al. (2020). Barriers to accessing hearing health care among older adults in the United States. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16485
    
    
13. Manchaiah, V. et al. (2021). Teleaudiology: Lessons learned and implications for the future. Hearing Review. https://hearingreview.com/practice-building/practice-management/teleaudiology-lessons-learned
    
    
14. Viswanath, K. et al. (2010). Communication and health disparities: Opportunities for intervention. American Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.167007

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