Hearing Loss in Adolescents Is on the Rise

One in five U.S. adolescents has some hearing loss.

Hearing loss in school-age children can affect learning, speech perception, social skill development, and self-image. To examine hearing-loss prevalence and trends in adolescents, researchers compared audiometric hearing evaluations in 2928 teens (age range, 12–19 years) in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) with evaluations in 1771 teens in the NHANES 2005–2006 survey.

Prevalence of unilateral or bilateral hearing loss (pure tone average, >15 dB) increased significantly from 14.9% in 1988–1994 to 19.5% in 2005–2006. Most hearing loss was unilateral, and high-frequency hearing loss was more common than low-frequency loss in both surveys. Prevalence of mild or worse hearing loss (>25 dB) also wa…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)