Details:

Alternative Title:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6605e3
Personal Author:
Carroll, Yulia I ; Eichwald, John ; Scinicariello, Franco ; Hoffman, Howard J. ; Deitchman, Scott ; ... More +
Carroll, Yulia I ; Eichwald, John ; Scinicariello, Franco ; Hoffman, Howard J. ; Deitchman, Scott ; Radke, Marilyn S. ; Themann, Christa L. ; Breysse, Patrick Less -
Description:
Introduction

The 2016 National Academies of Sciences report “Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability” included a call to action for government agencies to strengthen efforts to collect, analyze, and disseminate population-based data on hearing loss in adults.

Methods

CDC analyzed the most recent available data collected both by questionnaire and audiometric tests of adult participants aged 20–69 years in the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine the presence of audiometric notches indicative of noise-induced hearing loss. Prevalence of both unilateral and bilateral audiometric notches and their association with sociodemographics and self-reported exposure to loud noise were calculated.

Results

Nearly one in four adults (24%) had audiometric notches, suggesting a high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss. The prevalence of notches was higher among males. Almost one in four U.S. adults who reported excellent or good hearing had audiometric notches (5.5% bilateral and 18.0% unilateral). Among participants who reported exposure to loud noise at work, almost one third had a notch.

Conclusions and Implications for Public Health Practice

Noise-induced hearing loss is a significant, often unrecognized health problem among U.S. adults. Discussions between patients and personal health care providers about hearing loss symptoms, tests, and ways to protect hearing might help with early diagnosis of hearing loss and provide opportunities to prevent harmful noise exposures. Avoiding prolonged exposure to loud environments and using personal hearing protection devices can prevent noise-induced hearing loss.


Subject:
[+]
Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Vital Signs
Young Adult

Source:
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 66(5):139-144.
Pubmed ID:
28182600
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC5657963
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:15647459ab0a2896e9009084a0a283384481ef87f59075a50ab8084058d6368f
File Type:

Supporting Files

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