Masterson Elizabeth A, Themann Christa L, Luckhaupt Sara E, Li Jia, Calvert Geoffrey M
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio.
Am J Ind Med. 2016 Apr;59(4):290-300. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22565. Epub 2016 Jan 28.
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.
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.
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).
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.
听力损失和耳鸣是两种可能使人衰弱的身体状况，在美国影响着许多人。本研究的目的是估计美国听力困难、耳鸣及其共现情况的患病率。
对2007年美国国家健康访谈调查（NHIS）的数据进行了检查。通过人口统计学特征、有无职业噪声暴露的工人、不同行业和职业，估计并比较了自我报告的听力困难、耳鸣及其共现情况的加权患病率和调整患病率比。
在美国从未接触过职业噪声的工人中，7%有听力困难，5%有耳鸣，2%两者都有。然而，在曾经接触过职业噪声的工人中，患病率分别为23%、15%和9%（P < 0.0001）。
听力困难和耳鸣在美国很普遍；尤其是在接触噪声的工人中。需要改进听力保护策略或更好地实施这些策略。
