Korean J Occup Environ Med.  1999 Sep;11(3):323-331.

Prevalence of Tinnitus and Hearing Thresholds of a Non-Noise-Exposed Population with and without Tinnitus

• Koo JW
• Lee WC
• Kim H
• Choi BC
• Oh MH
• Park CY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In order to establish prevalence and characteristics of tinnitus and hearing thresholds according to tinnitus, this study was carried out.
METHODS
Nine hundred and thirty two subjects, undergone human dock or general health check-up and been in college, were surveyed to the questionnaire on the general characteristics, past medical histories, life styles, subjective symptoms about hearing, taking ototoxic drugs and were conducted on the hearing thresholds by pure tone audiometry.
RESULTS
Of the total population, 98 reported tinnitus, giving an overall prevalence of 10.5%, prevalence of tinnitus in the subjects with the factors infuencing hearing thresholds were 17.4 %, prevalence without the factors influencing hearing thresholds were 7.5 %. Frequency of tinnitus of the total population was the highest in 'once per several months'(39.6 %) and followed by' once per several days'(29.7 %), 'all day long'(16.5 %) and' several times per day'(14.3 %). Complaint site of tinnitus was 41.8 % in left ear or right ear 39.6 % in both ear and 18.7 % in head. The 13.6% of the total subjects complained sleep disturbance. Hearing thresholds in the subjects without the factors influencing hearing thresholds tended to increase or decrease in 20 and 30 years old according to tinnitus, but those with, tinnitus tended to increase more than chose without tinnitus in 40 and 50 years old.
CONCLUSIONS
Results also provide evidence that reports of tinnitus at the time of annual audiometric testing may be useful in identifying workers at greater risk for developing significant shifts in hearing thresholds. Awareness of the possible occurrence of tinnitus may encourage worker to cooperate more actively in a company hearing conservation programme.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Audiometry
Ear
Head
Hearing*
Humans
Life Style
Middle Aged
Prevalence*
Questionnaires
Tinnitus*