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About the National Data
Data
Baseline: 97.8 per 1,000 adults aged 20 to 69 years had hearing thresholds in both ears signifying noise-induced hearing loss in 2015-16
Target: 79.0 per 1,000
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
From the 2015-16 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey:
Numerator:
Measured hearing thresholds at frequencies of 0.5, 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz, in each ear, indicating presence of an audiometric threshold notch (see definition for an audiometric threshold notch in Methodological section).Methodology notes
An audiometric threshold notch is present when one or more of the thresholds at 3, 4, or 6 kHz exceeds the pure-tone average of 0.5 and 1 kHz thresholds by 15 dB or more, and the 8 kHz threshold is at least 5 dB lower (better) than the highest threshold in the 3–6 kHz range.
Age-adjustment notes
This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:
- Total: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Sex: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Race/Ethnicity: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Educational Attainment: 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Country of Birth: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Activity limitations: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Health Insurance Status: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69
- Marital Status: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69