Temporal Trends in the Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Adolescents
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Presenter: Harry Wu
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Methods
Data from the 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2017-2020 NHANES cycles were analyzed. The sample included adolescents aged 12-19 years with available audiometric data. HL was defined as a low-frequency pure tone average (LPTA) or high-frequency pure tone average (HPTA) >15dB in the worse ear. Analyses also followed WHO classification, defining HL across speech frequencies PTA4. Weighted estimates of HL by NHANES cycle were compared using Wald χ2 tests. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression identified potential risk factors for HL, accounting for NHANES's complex sampling design.
Results
Our study indicated a decrease in HL prevalence from 19.5% (95% CI: 15.7 - 23.9) in 2005-2006 to 10.9% (95% CI: 9.3 - 12.7) in 2017-2020 using HPTA or LPTA >15dB. Using PTA4, prevalence decreased from 7.0% (95% CI: 5.2 - 9.3) to 4.6% (95% CI 3.7 - 5.8). Logistic analyses identified reduced odds of HL among females, those identifying as Hispanic or Other, those above the poverty threshold, and those with fewer than three ear infections.
Conclusions
These findings indicate a decrease in audiometric HL prevalence among adolescents from 2005-2020, aligning with broader trends of a rise in HL rates until 2008, followed by a decline. Factors such as reduced ear infections and demographic shifts may contribute to this decrease. Limitations include the lack of data on environmental noise exposure and headphone use due to changing survey protocols. Understanding these trends is vital for developing effective public health strategies.
Data from the 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2017-2020 NHANES cycles were analyzed. The sample included adolescents aged 12-19 years with available audiometric data. HL was defined as a low-frequency pure tone average (LPTA) or high-frequency pure tone average (HPTA) >15dB in the worse ear. Analyses also followed WHO classification, defining HL across speech frequencies PTA4. Weighted estimates of HL by NHANES cycle were compared using Wald χ2 tests. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression identified potential risk factors for HL, accounting for NHANES's complex sampling design.
Results
Our study indicated a decrease in HL prevalence from 19.5% (95% CI: 15.7 - 23.9) in 2005-2006 to 10.9% (95% CI: 9.3 - 12.7) in 2017-2020 using HPTA or LPTA >15dB. Using PTA4, prevalence decreased from 7.0% (95% CI: 5.2 - 9.3) to 4.6% (95% CI 3.7 - 5.8). Logistic analyses identified reduced odds of HL among females, those identifying as Hispanic or Other, those above the poverty threshold, and those with fewer than three ear infections.
Conclusions
These findings indicate a decrease in audiometric HL prevalence among adolescents from 2005-2020, aligning with broader trends of a rise in HL rates until 2008, followed by a decline. Factors such as reduced ear infections and demographic shifts may contribute to this decrease. Limitations include the lack of data on environmental noise exposure and headphone use due to changing survey protocols. Understanding these trends is vital for developing effective public health strategies.
