Epidemiology of tinnitus, Medical Research Council's Institute of Hearing Research

Abstract

The Institute of Hearing Research is now in the first of a three-year clinical characterization of hearing in the adult British population. One aim of this study is to obtain epidemiological data on the prevalence, and the handicapping effects and rehabilitational requirements for persons with hearing impairment, tinnitus, or both. The material presented here relates chiefly to the main pilot study. In Tier A, 6804 copies of a brief questionnaire were posted to random samples of people on the electoral rolls in Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham and Southampton. In Tier B, a stratified sample (n = 272) from the people who replied to the questionnaire was chosen for audiological and otological examination. The prevalence of tinnitus was 15.5-18.6% in the four cities, markedly less than the 39% found in the pre-pilot study, in which the wording of the questionnaire had not excluded spontaneous tinnitus of less tha five minutes' duration or temporary sound-induced tinnitus. In the four population sampled, tinnitus causing severe annoyance was reported by 0.4-2.8%, while a severe loss of the ability to lead a normal life was reported by 0.4-0.5%. The percentage reporting tinnitus increased significantly with age and with exposure to noise.