International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 247-252, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
DH Wilson, PG Walsh, L Sanchez, AC Davis, AW Taylor, G Tucker and I Meagher
BACKGROUND: This study measured the prevalence of hearing impairment, and
major demographic factors that influence the prevalence, in a
representative South Australian adult population sample aged > or = 15
years. METHODS: The study group was recruited from representative
population surveys of South Australians. Participants in these surveys who
reported a hearing disability were then recruited to an audiological study
which measured air and bone conduction thresholds. In addition a sample of
those people who reported no hearing disability were recruited to the
audiological study. RESULTS: The data reported in this study are the first
in Australia to assess the prevalence of hearing impairment from a
representative population survey using audiological methods. The data show
that 16.6% of the South Australian population have a hearing impairment in
the better ear at > or = 25 dBHTL and 22.2% in the worse ear at the same
level. The results obtained in this representative sample compare well with
those obtained in the British Study of Hearing, although some differences
were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there are only a few studies worldwide
that have audiologically assessed the impairment of hearing from a
representative population sample. The overall prevalence of hearing
impairment in Australia is similar to that found in Great Britain, although
there are some differences between the estimates of severity of impairment
and some sex differences. The corroboration of the two studies reinforces
the status of hearing impairment as the most common disability of
adulthood. The present study also showed that there are a large number of
Australians who may benefit from a more systematic community-based
rehabilitation programme including the fitting of hearing aids. Secondly,
the study identified the need for health goals and targets for hearing to
be based on an epidemiological approach to the problem.
ARTICLES
The epidemiology of hearing impairment in an Australian adult population
Centre for Population Studies in Epidemiology, Department of Human Services, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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