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. 2010 Jun 1;264(1-2):3-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2009.10.008. Epub 2009 Oct 22.

Education, occupation, noise exposure history and the 10-yr cumulative incidence of hearing impairment in older adults

Karen J Cruickshanks  1 , David M Nondahl, Ted S Tweed, Terry L Wiley, Barbara E K Klein, Ronald Klein, Rick Chappell, Dayna S Dalton, Scott D Nash
Affiliations

Education, occupation, noise exposure history and the 10-yr cumulative incidence of hearing impairment in older adults

Karen J Cruickshanks et al. Hear Res. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the 10-yr cumulative incidence of hearing impairment and associations of education, occupation and noise exposure history with the incidence of hearing impairment in a population-based cohort study of 3753 adults ages 48-92 yr at the baseline examinations during 1993-1995 in Beaver Dam, WI. Hearing thresholds were measured at baseline, 2.5 yr-, 5 yr-, and 10-yr follow-up examinations. Hearing impairment was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA)>25 dB HL at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Demographic characteristics and occupational histories were obtained by questionnaire. The 10-yr cumulative incidence of hearing impairment was 37.2%. Age (5 yr; Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.81), sex (M vs W; HR=2.29), occupation based on longest held job (production/operations/farming vs others; HR=1.34), marital status (unmarried vs married; HR=1.29) and education (<16 vs 16+yr; HR=1.40) were associated with the 10 yr incidence. History of noisy jobs was not associated with the 10-yr incidence of hearing impairment. The risk of hearing impairment was high, with women experiencing a slightly later onset. Markers of socioeconomic status were associated with hearing impairment, suggesting that hearing impairment in older adults may be associated with modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors, and therefore, at least partially preventable.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cumulative Proportion of Participants without Hearing Impairment by Age at Detection or Last Follow-up: Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study. All participants included in this analysis had normal hearing (PTA ≤25 dB HL) at the baseline examination.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cumulative Proportion of Participants without Progression of Hearing Impairment by Age at Progression or Last Follow-up: Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study. All participants included in this analysis had hearing impairment (PTA >25 dB HL) at the baseline examination.
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References

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