Tinnitus and hearing loss in U.S. adults: Results from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Background: NHIS has collected detailed information on hearing loss and tinnitus in periodic supplements.

Methods: NIDCD supported additional hearing and tinnitus questions in the 2007 NHIS, which interviewed 23,393 civilian, non-institutionalized adults, 18+ years. Hearing questions included the Gallaudet Hearing Scale and the tinnitus question was: “In the past 12 months, have you been bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your ears or head that lasts for 5 minutes or more?” Follow-up questions for tinnitus asked frequency, duration, relation to noise exposure, occurrence before sleep, degree of bothersomeness, consultation with physicians, and if treatments were tried.

Results: In 2007, an estimated 15% (33.3 million) of adults had some hearing trouble, of whom 61.8% reported “a little trouble”, 22.9% “moderate trouble”, 13.8% “a lot of trouble”, and 1.5% “deaf”. The overall tinnitus prevalence in adults was 9.6% (21.4 million). Tinnitus prevalence was 3.6% (excellent hearing), increased to 9.1% (good hearing), and then jumped three- to four-fold for any trouble hearing: 31.2% (a little trouble), 37.8% (moderate trouble), 35.4% (a lot of trouble), and 27.5% (deaf). Statistically increased risks of tinnitus were associated with “ever used firearms”, “exposure to loud noise at job”, “leisure-time exposure to loud noise”, fair and poor general health, and several measures of anxiety or depression. Only half who experienced tinnitus had consulted their physicians; one-sixth tried treatments (45% drugs/medications).

Conclusion: Tinnitus and hearing loss, two common chronic health conditions, will likely increase as the population ages; improved understanding should lead to more effective risk reduction programs.