The prevalence of hearing loss in South Korea: data from a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS In the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in the South Korean population and to understand the correlation between aging, sex, and hearing loss prevalence through the analysis of data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional epidemiological study. METHODS The KNHANES is an ongoing population study that started in 1998. Examinations to detect diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, including audiological testing and otologic examinations, have been conducted since 2010. We included a total of 18,650 participants in the KNHANES, from 2010 to 2012, in the present study. Pure-tone audiometric testing was conducted in participants aged ≥ 12 years. The frequencies tested were 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz. RESULTS The prevalence of hearing loss in speech-relevant frequencies in the South Korean population was 9.31% for unilateral hearing loss and 13.42% for bilateral hearing loss. The overall hearing loss (unilateral or bilateral) was 22.73%. Male and older participants were more often affected by hearing loss than female and younger participants. High-frequency hearing loss appeared earlier than hearing loss at speech-relevant frequencies, and unilateral hearing loss showed a weaker correlation with aging than bilateral hearing loss. CONCLUSION The prevalence of hearing loss in South Korea was higher in men and older participants according to the data collected from the KNHANES. The patterns of hearing loss differed between hearing loss at speech-relevant frequencies and at high frequencies.