RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Deafness in middle age—how big is the problem?
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 472
OP 478
VO 25
IS 156
A1 M. F. D'Souza
A1 L. M. Irwig
A1 H. T. Trevelyan
A1 A. V. Swan
A1 D. Shannon
A1 E. Tuckman
A1 H. J. T. Woodall
YR 1975
UL http://bjgp.org/content/25/156/472.abstract
AB Screening for hearing defect by questionnaire and audiogram was undertaken in two group practices in the South-east of England in a total of 2,278 people aged 40-64 years. The prevalence of deafness in the combined populations of these two practices as measured by audiogram was found to be 5·8 per cent (± 0·5 per cent; one standard error). This figure is much more than estimates derived from American data for use in Britain. The prevalence of deafness was shown to increase with lower social class and age. The questionnaire was found to be unreliable for prevalence studies, but was thought to have some use as a screening instrument. There was an incidental finding of increased hearing defects in the left ears of men. The firing of rifles was felt to be a possible explanation of this.