Prevalence and characteristics of tinnitus in older adults: the Blue Mountains Hearing Study

There have been few recent estimates of the prevalence of tinnitus from large population-based samples of older persons. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of prolonged tinnitus in a representative sample of 2015 adults aged 55-99 years, residing in the Blue Mountains, west...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of audiology 2003-07, Vol.42 (5), p.289-294
Main Authors: SINDHUSAKE, Doungkamol, MITCHELL, Paul, NEWALL, Philip, GOLDING, Maryanne, ROCHTCHINA, Elena, RUBIN, George
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Audiometry, Pure-Tone - methods
Audiometry, Speech - methods
Australia
Biological and medical sciences
Blue Mountains
Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology
Female
Health Surveys
Hearing impairment
Hearing Loss - complications
Humans
Male
Medical History Taking
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
New South Wales - epidemiology
Non tumoral diseases
Older people
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Prevalence
Tinnitus
Tinnitus - epidemiology
Tinnitus - etiology
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Summary:There have been few recent estimates of the prevalence of tinnitus from large population-based samples of older persons. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of prolonged tinnitus in a representative sample of 2015 adults aged 55-99 years, residing in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia, during 1997-99. All participants underwent a detailed hearing examination by an audiologist, including comprehensive questions about hearing. After age adjustment, subjects reporting tinnitus had significantly worse hearing at both lower and higher frequencies (p < 0.001). This difference was more marked in younger than in older subjects (p < 0.05). Overall, 602 subjects (30.3%) reported having experienced tinnitus, with 48% reporting symptoms in both ears. Tinnitus had been present for at least 6 years in 50% of cases, and most (55%) reported a gradual onset. Despite tinnitus being described as mildly to extremely annoying by 67%, only 37% had sought professional help, and only 6% had received any treatment.
ISSN:1499-2027
1708-8186
DOI:10.3109/14992020309078348