Hearing Disability Prevalence and Risk Factors in Two Recent National Surveys

Hearing loss is a worldwide societal and public health concern. Globally, disabling hearing loss affects 538 million adults (men, 12.2%; women, 9.8%). This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with deafness or serious difficulty hearing in two nationally representative surveys.

Data were analyzed in 2017 from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the 2014 National Health Interview Survey. The BRFSS collected data through telephone interviews. The 2014 National Health Interview Survey collected face-to-face household interview data that included a hearing health supplement in the Sample Adult Core. Both surveys asked adults aged ≥18 years the disability question on deafness or serious difficulty hearing as defined by the American Community Survey. Weighted prevalence, prevalence ratios, and 95% CIs were calculated. Logistic regression was used to adjust for sociodemographic and geographic characteristics.

Prevalence of deafness or serious difficulty hearing was 5.8% (BRFSS) and 6.0% (National Health Interview Survey); males had a 60% higher prevalence than females. The prevalence was significantly associated with increasing age, lower educational level and income, and was higher among non-Hispanic whites than among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. Deafness or serious difficulty hearing was strongly associated with increasing degree of self-reported trouble hearing in the National Health Interview Survey. The BRFSS state-specific prevalence varied from 3.8% to 13.3%, with higher prevalence in the most public health-challenged states according to America's Health Rankings.

The prevalence of deafness or serious difficulty hearing was approximately 6% in the National Health Interview Survey and BRFSS, but increased considerably for older, less advantaged individuals and in more public health-challenged states.