NIDCD Research is Building Connections for Better Hearing and Speech:
- NIDCD research advances our understanding of hearing, voice, speech, and language disorders, leading to improvements in diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies.
- At least 46 million people in the U.S. have a hearing, voice, speech, or language disorder that affects how they communicate.
- Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) report some trouble hearing, and this rate increases to 50% among adults 75 and older.
- Roughly 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders by the first grade, usually marked by difficulty pronouncing specific sounds. Stuttering (a disorder affecting speech fluency) affects approximately 5 to 10% of children in the U.S.
