Hearing loss is often viewed as an issue that only comes with old age, but that is far from the whole picture. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 1.5 billion people (nearly 20 % of the global population) live with hearing loss, and 430 million of them have disabling hearing loss (greater than 35 dB) that warrants rehabilitation. Skipping Regular Hearing TestsADVERTISEMENTMany people don’t realise they have a problem until hearing loss is severe. Other Major Causes You Should KnowAge (Presbycusis): Gradual, age-related hearing loss is the most common cause of adult hearing decline. Many people over 60 already show disabling hearing loss, as more than 25% of those older than 60 are affected by disabling hearing loss according to the WHO.