title: Prevalence and characteristics of tinnitus in older adults: the Blue Mountains Hearing Study.
abstract: There have been few recent estimates of the prevalence of tinnitus from large population-based samples of older persons. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of prolonged tinnitus in a representative sample of 2015 adults aged 55-99 years, residing in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia, during 1997-99. All participants underwent a detailed hearing examination by an audiologist, including comprehensive questions about hearing. After age adjustment, subjects reporting tinnitus had significantly worse hearing at both lower and higher frequencies (p < 0.001). This difference was more marked in younger than in older subjects (p < 0.05). Overall, 602 subjects (30.3%) reported having experienced tinnitus, with 48% reporting symptoms in both ears. Tinnitus had been present for at least 6 years in 50% of cases, and most (55%) reported a gradual onset. Despite tinnitus being described as mildly to extremely annoying by 67%, only 37% had sought professional help, and only 6% had received any treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Doungkamol
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sindhusake
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Newall
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rochtchina
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology