On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS
Baseline: 61.8 percent of adults aged 18 years and over with onset of "bothersome" (i.e., a moderate, big, or very big problem) tinnitus in the past 5 years had seen a health care specialist in 2014
Target: 74.2 percent
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
From the 2014 National Health Interview Survey Hearing Health Supplement:
Numerator:
- DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you been bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your ears or head ("tinnitus") that lasts for 5 minutes or more?
- YES
- NO
- Refused
- Don't know
- How long have you been bothered by this ringing, roaring, or buzzing ("tinnitus") in your ears or head?
- LESS THAN 3 MONTHS
- 3 TO 11 MONTHS
- 1 TO 2 YEARS
- 3 TO 4 YEARS
- 5 TO 9 YEARS
- 10 TO 14 YEARS
- 15 YEARS OR MORE
- Refused
- Don't know
- How much of a problem is this ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your head or head? Would you say it is…
- NO PROBLEM
- A SMALL PROBLEM
- A MODERATE PROBLEM
- A BIG PROBLEM
- A VERY BIG PROBLEM
- Refused
- Don't know
- IN THE PAST 5 YEARS, have you been evaluated or treated for the ringing, roaring or buzzing in your ears or head ("tinnitus") by a medical specialist in hearing, such as an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor [include also otolaryngologist, otologist and neuro-otologist], audiologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist?
- YES
- NO
- Refused
- Don't know
Methodology notes
Definition: Tinnitus is a subjective complaint, self-reported in NHIS Hearing Supplements (2007 & 2014) as "ringing, roaring, or buzzing in the ears or head that lasted 5 minutes or longer in the past 12 months." Tinnitus questions are asked primarily in Hearing Health Supplements to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Numerator count includes responses to the 4 NHIS questions: a. "YES"; b. responses "1" through "4"; c. responses "3" through "5"; d. "YES". Denominator includes responses as the numerator for a., b., and c. Question d. is not relevant to the denominator.
Age-adjustment notes
This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:
- Total: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Sex: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Race/Ethnicity: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Educational Attainment: 25-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Family Type: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Country of Birth: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Disability Status: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Geographic Location: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
- Health Insurance Status: 18-44, 45-64
- Marital Status: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+