One in six U.S. adults reports trouble hearing
without a hearing aid, according to new results from
a nationally representative survey looking at
hearing and hearing loss.
Data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey
(NHIS) show age differences in self-reported hearing
loss, use of hearing aids or assistive technology,
and the likelihood of seeing a doctor or other
health professional for hearing loss. The findings
are published in a data brief released September 17
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
The analysis was done by researchers from NCHS and
from the National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the
National Institutes of Health. The NIDCD
collaborated with NCHS on the development of the
core and supplemental NHIS questions regarding
hearing. The NIDCD also co-funded the study.
Of the 16.8 percent of adults in the study who
report trouble hearing, adults ages 70 and older are
more likely to report trouble hearing (43.2 percent)
compared to those ages 40–69 (19.0 percent), and
those ages 18–39 (5.5 percent).
Interestingly, men in each age group are more likely
to report having trouble hearing compared to women,
and men are more likely to describe having "moderate
trouble" hearing (24.8 percent) compared to women
(20.8 percent).
For those ages 70 and older, 52.4 percent of men
report trouble hearing without a hearing aid
compared with 36.2 percent of women.
The researchers also found differences between men
and women in the self-reported causes of hearing
loss.
Overall, among those reporting that they have
trouble hearing, nearly two-thirds (62.6 percent)
say that they have mild hearing loss, defined as "a
little trouble hearing." Less than 2 percent of
adults who indicate they have any trouble hearing
are deaf.
The NHIS is a nationally representative survey that
uses personal household interviews to gather
information about a range of health topics. The
annually-conducted survey contains a series of core
questions—including the question about trouble
hearing without the assistance of a hearing aid—that
are asked every year and remain largely unchanged.
The researchers also analyzed data obtained through
supplemental questions about hearing. The study
analyzed information about one adult randomly
selected from each participating family.
Less than half (46.0 percent) of adults ages 18 and
older who report any trouble hearing have seen a
doctor or other health professional about their
hearing or ear problems in the last five years.
Those ages 70 and older who report any trouble
hearing are more likely (56.8) to have seen a doctor
or health professional about their hearing, compared
to those ages 40–69 (41.6 percent) and those ages
18–39 (38.1 percent).
The data brief also highlights age differences in
the use of hearing aids or assistive technology,
which included FM systems, instant or text messages,
or amplified telephones.
Less than one-quarter (21.5 percent) of adults who
report any trouble hearing have ever used a hearing
aid, while 9.1 percent have ever used assistive
technology.
Adults ages 70 and older are much more likely to
report having used hearing aids (42.0 percent)
compared with those ages 40–69 (13.5 percent), and
those ages 18–39 (4.7 percent). The use of assistive
technology, however, is more likely among those ages
18–39 (12.1 percent) and least likely among those
ages 40–69 (7.7 percent).
Men are more likely to attribute their hearing loss
to long-term noise exposure (35.6 percent) or loud,
brief noises, like gunfire or explosions, (14.8
percent) compared to women, 10.8 and 2.1 percent,
respectively.
Almost half of women (45.3 percent) say that the
main reason for their hearing loss is the result of
getting older or aging compared with men (24.5
percent).
Women are more likely to report ear infections or
otitis media as the main cause of their hearing loss
(10.9 percent) compared to men (4.7 percent).
"The data provide interesting insight into how
people assess and seek treatment for their
individual hearing loss. The findings underscore the
need to develop better strategies to encourage
people of all ages to seek help for their hearing
loss," said Howard J. Hoffman, M.A., co-author of
the data brief and NIDCD director of epidemiology
and statistics.
For more information
Self-reported Hearing Trouble in Adults Aged 18 and
Over: United States, 2014
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db214.htm
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