Table of Contents

Component Description

The Audiometry questionnaire section (variable name prefix AUQ_F) provides interview data on self-reported hearing status, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing screening history, the use of hearing aids, the use of assistive devices for hearing, and risk factors for hearing loss.

Topics included in this section are:

• Self assessed hearing status

• History of ear infections; ear tube placed for infection (ages 12-19 years)

• How recently hearing tests were performed, if ever.

• Hearing aid use: ever used; use > 5 hours/week

• Use of assistive listening devices

• 12-month period prevalence of tinnitus: how long bothered by tinnitus, tinnitus present after loud sounds, bothered by tinnitus when falling asleep, self-assessed severity of tinnitus.

• Ever exposed to firearms noise; ever exposed to occupational or non-occupational loud noise.

• How often hearing protection is used.

Eligible Sample

All survey participants, aged 1 year and older, were eligible for the initial question (AUQ131) relating to self-reported hearing capability/deficits.

Survey respondents who were adolescents ages 12-19 years and older adults ages 70+ years were eligible for the full series of 2009-10 Audiometry questions.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

These questions were asked, in the home, by trained interviews using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used in the questionnaire.

Data Processing and Editing

The 2009–10 Audiometry Questionnaire data was verified against the main data file prior to public release.

Analytic Notes

Full sample NHANES 2009-10 Household Interview weights should be used if statistical analysis only involves the AUQ_F questionnaire data. Although these data were collected as a part of the household questionnaire, if they are merged with NHANES MEC examination data(for example the Audiometry examination data), the MEC exam sample weights should be used for analysis.

Previous National Health Interview Survey and NHANES III (1988-1994) Audiometry questionnaires served as questionnaire sources.

Audiometry examination data is found in the Audiometry Section of the NHANES 2009–10 Examination Files (AUX_F).

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS

AUQ131 - General condition of hearing

Variable Name:
AUQ131
SAS Label:
General condition of hearing
English Text:
These next questions are about {your/SP's} hearing. Which statement best describes {your/SP's} hearing (without a hearing aid)? Would you say {your/his/her} hearing is excellent, good, that {you have/s/he has} a little trouble, moderate trouble, a lot of trouble, or {are you/is s/he} deaf?
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 EXCELLENT 4421 4421
2 GOOD 3990 8411
3 A LITTLE TROUBLE 1084 9495
4 MODERATE HEARING TROUBLE 376 9871
5 A LOT OF TROUBLE 211 10082
6 DEAF 22 10104
7 Refused 1 10105
9 Don't know 4 10109
. Missing 0 10109

AUQ135 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
AUQ135
English Instructions:
BOX 1. CHECK ITEM AUQ.135: IF SP AGE >= 12 AND AGE <= 19, GO TO AUQ.136. OTHERWISE, CONTINUE.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS

AUQ249 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
AUQ249
English Instructions:
BOX 2. CHECK ITEM AUQ.249: IF SP AGE >=70, GO TO AUQ.141. OTHERWISE, GO TO END OF SECTION.
Target:
Both males and females 1 YEARS - 150 YEARS

AUQ136 - Ever had 3 or more ear infections?

Variable Name:
AUQ136
SAS Label:
Ever had 3 or more ear infections?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever had 3 or more ear infections?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 382 382
2 No 941 1323
7 Refused 0 1323
9 Don't know 14 1337
. Missing 8772 10109

AUQ138 - Ever had tube placed in ear?

Variable Name:
AUQ138
SAS Label:
Ever had tube placed in ear?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever had a tube placed in {your/his/her} ear to drain the fluid from {your/his/her} ear?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 19 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 112 112
2 No 1217 1329
7 Refused 0 1329
9 Don't know 8 1337
. Missing 8772 10109

AUQ141 - Last time had hearing tested

Variable Name:
AUQ141
SAS Label:
Last time had hearing tested
English Text:
When was the last time {you had/SP had} {your/his/her} hearing tested?
English Instructions:
READ CATEGORIES IF NECESSARY
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Less than a year ago 662 662
2 1 year to 4 years ago 796 1458
3 5 to 9 years ago 291 1749
4 Ten or more years ago 244 1993
5 Never 373 2366
7 Refused 0 2366
9 Don't know 82 2448
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ150 - Ever worn a hearing aid

Variable Name:
AUQ150
SAS Label:
Ever worn a hearing aid
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever worn a hearing aid?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 198 198
2 No 2249 2447 AUQ185
7 Refused 0 2447 AUQ185
9 Don't know 1 2448 AUQ185
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ171 - Worn hearing aid 5 hours a week?

Variable Name:
AUQ171
SAS Label:
Worn hearing aid 5 hours a week?
English Text:
In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} worn a hearing aid at least 5 hours a week?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 133 133
2 No 65 198
7 Refused 0 198
9 Don't know 0 198
. Missing 9911 10109

AUQ185 - Ever used assistive listening devices?

Variable Name:
AUQ185
SAS Label:
Ever used assistive listening devices?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever used assistive listening devices (ALDs), such as FM systems, closed-captioned television, or amplified telephone (or relay services)?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 67 67
2 No 2380 2447
7 Refused 0 2447
9 Don't know 1 2448
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ191 - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing past year

Variable Name:
AUQ191
SAS Label:
Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing past year
English Text:
In the past 12 months, {have you/has SP} been bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in {your/his/her} ears or head that lasts for 5 minutes or more?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 333 333
2 No 2110 2443 AUQ211
7 Refused 0 2443 AUQ211
9 Don't know 5 2448 AUQ211
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ250 - How long bothered by ringing, roaring

Variable Name:
AUQ250
SAS Label:
How long bothered by ringing, roaring
English Text:
How long {have you/has SP} been bothered by this ringing, roaring, or buzzing in {your/his/her} ears or head?
English Instructions:
READ CATEGORIES IF NECESSARY
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 LESS THAN THREE MONTHS 59 59
2 THREE MONTHS TO A YEAR 47 106
3 1 TO 4 YEARS 79 185
4 5 TO 9 YEARS 45 230
5 TEN OR MORE YEARS 102 332
7 Refused 0 332
9 Don't know 1 333
. Missing 9776 10109

AUQ260 - Bothered by ringing after loud sounds?

Variable Name:
AUQ260
SAS Label:
Bothered by ringing after loud sounds?
English Text:
{Are you/Is SP} bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in {your/his/her} ears or head only after listening to loud sounds or loud music?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 42 42
2 No 288 330
7 Refused 0 330
9 Don't know 3 333
. Missing 9776 10109

AUQ270 - Bothered by ringing when going to sleep

Variable Name:
AUQ270
SAS Label:
Bothered by ringing when going to sleep
English Text:
{Are you/Is SP} bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in {your/his/her} ears or head when going to sleep?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 102 102
2 No 230 332
7 Refused 0 332
9 Don't know 1 333
. Missing 9776 10109

AUQ280 - How much of a problem is ringing?

Variable Name:
AUQ280
SAS Label:
How much of a problem is ringing?
English Text:
How much of a problem is this ringing, roaring, or buzzing in {your/his/her} ears or head?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 No Problem 119 119
2 A small problem 124 243
3 A moderate problem 63 306
4 A big problem 22 328
5 A very big problem 5 333
7 Refused 0 333
9 Don't know 0 333
. Missing 9776 10109

AUQ211 - Ever used firearms?

Variable Name:
AUQ211
SAS Label:
Ever used firearms?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever used firearms for target shooting, hunting, or for any other purposes?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 591 591
2 No 1856 2447
7 Refused 0 2447
9 Don't know 1 2448
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ290 - Ever had job exposure to loud noise?

Variable Name:
AUQ290
SAS Label:
Ever had job exposure to loud noise?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever had a job where {you were/s/he was} exposed to loud noise for 5 or more hours a week? By loud noise I mean noise so loud that {you/s/he} had to speak in a raised voice to be heard.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 399 399
2 No 2046 2445
7 Refused 0 2445
9 Don't know 3 2448
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ231 - Ever had non-job exposure to loud noise?

Variable Name:
AUQ231
SAS Label:
Ever had non-job exposure to loud noise?
English Text:
Outside of a job, {have you/has SP} ever been exposed to steady loud noise or music for 5 or more hours a week? This is noise so loud that {you have/s/he has} to raise {your/his/her} voice to be heard. Examples are noise from power tools, lawn mowers, farm machinery, cars, trucks, motorcycles, or loud music.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 368 368
2 No 2078 2446
7 Refused 0 2446
9 Don't know 2 2448
. Missing 7661 10109

AUQ241 - How often wear hearing protection?

Variable Name:
AUQ241
SAS Label:
How often wear hearing protection?
English Text:
How often {do you/does SP} wear hearing protection devices (ear plugs, ear muffs) when exposed to loud sounds or noise? (Include both job and off work exposures.)
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Most of the time 134 134
2 Sometimes 200 334
3 Rarely/seldom 163 497
4 Never 1949 2446
7 Refused 0 2446
9 Don't know 2 2448
. Missing 7661 10109