This survey shows the percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears from 2011 to 2012, by age. It was found that around 37 percent of those aged 30 to 39 years who were exposed to loud or very loud noise at work had noise-induced hearing loss.
Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age
Characteristic
20 to 29 years
30 to 39 years
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years
60 to 69 years
Work exposure to noise
22.9%
37.3%
36%
35.8%
27.3%
No reported work exposure to noise
17.6%
18.6%
25%
20.3%
17.7%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
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Persons with no work exposure to noise included both those who reported off-work exposure to noise (e.g. noise from power tools, lawn mowers, farm machinery,
cars, trucks, motorcycles, motor boats or music for 10 or more hours a week) and those who did not report exposure to off-work noise. Persons with work exposure
to noise reported exposure to loud or very loud noise at work.
Noise-induced hearing loss in determined by the presence of an audiometric notch. An audiometric notch is a deterioration in the hearing threshold (the softest sound a person can hear). An audiometric notch is present when one or more of the
thresholds at 3–4, or 6 kHz exceeds the pure-tone average of the 0.5 and1 kHz thresholds by 15 dB hearing level (HL) or more, and the 8 kHz threshold is at least 5 dB HL
lower (better) than the highest threshold in the 3–6 kHz range. Audiograms were not accepted if the test and retest results were greater of 10 dB. The average 1-kHz
frequency was the value used in this study. Participants were excluded if they had partial audio exam, ear compliance ≤0.2 mL or pressure more negative than
-150 dekapascals (daPa) (normal air pressure is approximately equal on both sides of the tympanic membrane [zero daPa])
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MMWR. (February 10, 2017). Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 02, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/
MMWR. "Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age." Chart. February 10, 2017. Statista. Accessed April 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/
MMWR. (2017). Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/
MMWR. "Percentage of Adults in The U.S. Exposed to Noise at Work Who Had Noise-induced Hearing Loss in One or Both Ears in 2011-2012, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 10 Feb 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/
MMWR, Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/ (last visited April 02, 2025)
Percentage of adults in the U.S. exposed to noise at work who had noise-induced hearing loss in one or both ears in 2011-2012, by age [Graph], MMWR, February 10, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/674373/adults-with-noise-at-work-and-hearing-loss-us-by-age/
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