Hearing levels in US adults aged 20–69 Years—National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a nationally representative, population-based survey designed to assess the health and nutritional status of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Data were collected through a personal interview regarding health history and through physical examination. Earlier NHANES surveys were conducted on a periodic basis; however, in 1999, NHANES began collecting data on a continuing, annual basis. During NHANES I, which ran from 1971 to 1975, audiometric testing was conducted on adults aged 25–74 years. No subsequent testing of adults was conducted in the NHANES program until 1999, when NHANES began audiometric testing of adults aged 20–69 years. In 2004, the sampling from this age group was completed. This report examines the hearing levels for adults in the United States and compares them with the hearing data from NHANES I. Hearing levels are grouped by age and by ethnicity and gender.