Analysis of the Current Status and Characteristics of the Hearing Impaired Using Data from the Actual Survey for the Disabled

Purpose: This study intends to analyze the current status and characteristics of the hearing impaired by analyzing ‘actual survey data for the disabled’ from 2005 to recent, and to use them as basic data for establishing rehabilitation and welfare service policies for the hearing impaired. Methods: Among the items related to hearing impairment in the survey data, longitudinal, and meaningful areas such as general characteristics, hearing aid and communication, education and welfare services of the hearing impaired were mainly analyzed. Results: The prevalence of hearing impairment was 0.65% to 0.66% and the age distribution of the hearing impaired increased rapidly after the age of 50, and the proportion of over 65 years old increased by about 17.9% from 55.3% in 2008 to 73.2% in 2017. The rate of acquired factors (5.2% as of 2017) was higher than that of congenital factors as the cause of hearing impairment. The rate of people with hearing impairment who did not attend school increased as they went up from elementary school to high school, and the rate was the highest among the major areas of disability. Among the welfare needs of the hearing impaired, income security (40.4% as of 2017) was the highest. Conclusion: If research that reflects the various characteristics of hearing impairment is expanded in addition to periodic actual surveys for the disabled in the future, the current results is expected that it can be used as basic data for mid- to long-term welfare policies for the hearing impaired.