Author(s)
Justin S. Golub MD
Lawrence Lustig MD
Anil Lalwani MD
Affiliation(s)
New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
Abstract:
Educational Objective: To demonstrate the prevalence of unilateral hearing loss as well as hearing aid use in unilateral hearing loss in the adult United States population. Objectives: The prevalence of unilateral hearing loss and corresponding hearing aid usage in adults has not been definitely assessed. 1) To establish the prevalence of unilateral hearing loss; and 2) to establish the prevalence of hearing aid use with unilateral hearing loss in US adults using a nationally representative study. Study Design: Cross-sectional national epidemiologic study (n=6,242). Methods: Subjects aged 18 years and over with audiometric testing in the 2005-2006, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) were included. Unilateral hearing loss was defined as normal hearing (<=25 dB HL pure tone average; PTA) in one ear and at least mild hearing loss (>25 dB HL PTA) in the other ear. Hearing aid usage was defined by at least 5 hours per week (2005-2006) or at least seldom (2009-2012) use. Sampling weights were utilized to ensure generalizability to the US population. Results: The overall prevalence of unilateral hearing loss in adult Americans was 7.2% (95% CI 6.1-8.6%). The prevalence of mild and moderate or worse unilateral hearing loss was 5.7% (4.8-6.7%) and 1.5% (0.1-2.1%), respectively. Of those with unilateral hearing loss, the overall prevalence of hearing aid usage was 2.0% (0.6-6.7%). Hearing aid usage for mild and moderate or worse unilateral hearing loss was 1.4% (0.2-8.0%) and 4.2% (0.1-22%), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of unilateral hearing loss is common among US adults. The prevalence of at least occasional hearing aid usage for this condition is surprisingly low at 2% overall and 4% for moderate or worse unilateral hearing loss.