The epidemiology of hearing impairment in an Australian adult population

Background This study measured the prevalence of hearing impairment, and ma jor demo: graphic factors that influence the prevalence, in a representativ e South Australian adult population sample aged greater than or equal to 15 years. Methods The study group was recruited from representative population survey s of South Australians. Participants in these surveys who reported a hearin g disability were then recruited to an audiological study which measured ai r and bone conduction thresholds, in addition a sample of those people who reported no hearing disability were recruited to the audiological study. Results The data reported in this study are the first in Australia to asses s the prevalence The data reported in this study are the first in Australia to assess the prevalence of hearing impairment from a representative popul ation survey using audiological methods. The data show that 16.6% of the So uth Australian population have a hearing impairment in the better ear at gr eater than or equal to 25 dBHTL and 22.2% in the worse ear at the same leve l. The results obtained in this representative sample compare well with tho se obtained in the British Study of Hearing, although some differences were observed. Conclusions Overall there are only a few studies worldwide that have audiol ogically assessed Overall, there are only a few studies worldwide that have audiologically assessed the impairment of hearing from a representative po pulation sample. The overall prevalence of hearing impairment in Australia is similar to that found in Great Britain, although there are some differen ces between the estimates of severity of impairment and some sex difference s. The corroboration of the two studies reinforces the status of hearing im pairment as the most common disability of adulthood. The present study also showed that there are a large number of Australians who may benefit from a more systematic community-based, rehabilitation programme including the fi tting of hearing aids. Secondly, the study identified the need for health g oals and targets for hearing to be based on an epidemiological approach to the problem.