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Increase the proportion of adults with tinnitus that started in the past 5 years who have seen a specialist — HOSCD‑10 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About this objective  |  Methodology  |  History

About this objective

Data

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

National baseline: 36.8 percent of adults aged 18 years and over with onset of "bothersome" (i.e., a moderate, big, or very big problem) tinnitus in the past 5 years had seen a health care specialist in 2023

National target: 45.6 percent

Numerator
Number of adults aged 18 years and over who have seen a health care specialist (e.g., audiologist or otolaryngologist/ ENT physician, neurologist, or psychiatrist) about their tinnitus.
Denominator
Number of adults aged 18 years and over with onset of tinnitus within the past 5 years, for whom it is a moderate, big, or very big problems.
National target-setting method
Minimal statistical significance
National target-setting method details
Minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline.
National target-setting method justification
Trend data were not available for this objective. The standard error was used to calculate a target based on minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2023 National Health Interview Survey Hearing Health Supplement:

Numerator:
  1. DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you been bothered by ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your ears or head ("tinnitus") that lasts for 5 minutes or more?
    1. YES
    2. NO
    3. Refused
    4. Don't know
  2. How long have you been bothered by this ringing, roaring, or buzzing ("tinnitus") in your ears or head?
    1. LESS THAN 3 MONTHS
    2. 3 TO 11 MONTHS
    3. 1 TO 2 YEARS
    4. 3 TO 4 YEARS
    5. 5 TO 9 YEARS
    6. 10 TO 14 YEARS
    7. 15 YEARS OR MORE
    8. Refused
    9. Don't know
  3. How much of a problem is this ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your head or head? Would you say it is…
    1. NO PROBLEM
    2. A SMALL PROBLEM
    3. A MODERATE PROBLEM
    4. A BIG PROBLEM
    5. A VERY BIG PROBLEM
    6. Refused
    7. Don't know
  4. IN THE PAST 5 YEARS, have you been evaluated or treated for the ringing, roaring or buzzing in your ears or head ("tinnitus") by a medical specialist in hearing, such as an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor [include also otolaryngologist, otologist and neuro-otologist], audiologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist?
    1. YES
    2. NO
    3. Refused
    4. Don't know

Methodology notes

Definition:  Tinnitus is a subjective complaint, self-reported in NHIS Hearing Supplements (2007 & 2014) as "ringing, roaring, or buzzing in the ears or head that lasted 5 minutes or longer in the past 12 months."  Tinnitus questions are asked primarily in Hearing Health Supplements to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Numerator count includes responses to the 4 NHIS questions:  a. "YES"; b. responses "1" through "4"; c. responses "3" through "5"; d. "YES". Denominator includes responses as the numerator for a., b., and c. Question d. is not relevant to the denominator.

Age-adjustment notes

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Sex: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Race/Ethnicity: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Family Type: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Country of Birth: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Disability Status: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Geographic Location: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Health Insurance Status: 18-44, 45-64
  • Marital Status: 18-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Modified, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 but underwent a change in measurement.
Changes between HP2020 and HP2030
This objective differs from Healthy People 2020 objective ENT-VSL-9.2 in that objective HOSCD-10 was changed due to 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) redesign and the survey questions change. The change in the baseline estimate is significantly different and does not align with previous years trend.
Revision History
Revised. 

In 2025, the baseline was revised due to 2019 NHIS redesign and survey questions changes. The original baseline was changed from 61.8 percent in 2014 to 36.8 percent in 2023. The target was adjusted from 74.2 to 45.6 percent to reflect the revised baseline using the same target-setting method.