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. 1997 Mar;87(3):440–442. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.3.440

An increasing prevalence of hearing impairment and associated risk factors over three decades of the Alameda County Study.

M I Wallhagen 1, W J Strawbridge 1, R D Cohen 1, G A Kaplan 1
PMCID: PMC1381021  PMID: 9096550

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed changes in the prevalence of hearing impairment in persons aged 50 years and older over the past 30 years and identified risk factors. METHODS: Age-adjusted hearing impairment prevalence rates at four time intervals were calculated from the Alameda County Study (n = 5108). Logistic regression models analyzed risk factors from 1974 for 1994 incident hearing impairment. RESULTS: The prevalence of hearing impairment nearly doubled between 1965 and 1994. The increase was significantly greater for men. The higher incidence was associated with potentially high-noise-exposure occupations for men and with symptoms and conditions associated with ototoxic drug use for both men and women. Exercise was protective. CONCLUSIONS: Given the serious health and social consequences of hearing impairment, its increasing prevalence is cause for concern.

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Selected References

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