title: Hearing difficulty and tinnitus among U.S. workers and non-workers in 2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hearing loss and tinnitus are two potentially debilitating physical conditions affecting many people in the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing difficulty, tinnitus, and their co-occurrence within U.S.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were examined. Weighted prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios for self-reported hearing difficulty, tinnitus, and their co-occurrence were estimated and compared by demographic, among workers with and without occupational noise exposure, and across industries and occupations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven percent of U.S. workers never exposed to occupational noise had hearing difficulty, 5% had tinnitus and 2% had both conditions. However, among workers who had ever been exposed to occupational noise, the prevalence was 23%, 15%, and 9%, respectively (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing difficulty and tinnitus are prevalent in the U.S.; especially among noise-exposed workers. Improved strategies for hearing conservation or better implementation are needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Masterson
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Christa L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Themann
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Luckhaupt
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Calvert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hazardous noise; noise-induced hearing loss; occupational hearing loss; ringing in the ears; surveillance; tinnitus