Hearing Loss Affects Millions Of US Adults

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Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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According to a report published in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, the prevalence of hearing loss in American adults may be higher than previously thought.

It is widely accepted that hearing impairment is a highly common condition, and it is considered by many to be a societal problem. The aging population of the Unites States and the increase in use of personal listening devices (such as hearing aids) have been indicators that the incidence of this condition has risen significantly. People who suffer from the disabling condition of hearing loss have difficulty processing verbal language and have limited communication and social connectivity. The authors of this recent study add that, "Such communication difficulties negatively affect work productivity, health-related quality of life and cognitive and emotional status. These disabilities impede health care access and use, with possible adverse consequences to health and survival."

As few studies exist addressing the incidence of hearing loss in the US, Yuri Agrawal, M.D. (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore) and colleagues conducted an investigation to further analyze the topic. The researchers used a sample of 5,742 America, aged 20 to 69, who participated in a large national survey - including hearing tests - from 1999 to 2004. Major outcome measures were hearing loss of 25 decibels or higher at several different frequencies: speech frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kilohertz) and at high frequencies (3, 4 and 6 kilohertz). Statistical controls were implemented to adjust for demographic characteristics and known risk factors that may affect hearing loss, such as smoking, noise exposure, and cardiovascular conditions.

The study reveled that about 16.1% of American adults, or about 29 million American, had speech frequency hearing loss between 2003 and 2004. About 8.9% exhibited the condition in one ear, and 7.3% in both ears. "Thirty-one percent of participants (equivalent to an estimated 55 million Americans) had high-frequency hearing loss [12 percent in one ear and 19 percent in both]," write the authors. In general, younger people presented hearing loss at a lower rate than older people. For examples, 8.5% of those aged 20 to 29 had high frequency hearing loss compared to 17% of participants aged 30 to 39.

The researchers also broke down results by race and sex. They found that compared to women, men were five and one half times more likely to have hearing loss. White and Mexican American men were noted as having the highest incidence of both high-frequency hearing loss and hearing loss in both ears. On the other hand, black participants were 70 percent less likely than white participants to present hearing loss. "Increases in hearing loss prevalence occurred earlier among participants with smoking, noise exposure and cardiovascular risks," note Agrawal and colleagues.

"The results of our study suggest that prevention (through risk factor reduction) and screening must begin at least in young adulthood and that efforts should be intensified among white and Mexican American men," conclude the researchers. "Hearing loss reduces health-related quality of life and access to health care." They recommend public prevention and management programs to reduce the incidence of hearing loss.

Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Differences by Demographic Characteristics Among US Adults: Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004
Yuri Agrawal; Elizabeth A. Platz; John K. Niparko
Archives of Internal Medicine (2008). 168[14]: pp. 1522-1530.
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Written by: Peter M Crosta
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