Are your ears ringing? Tinnitus affects 750 million people, yet there is a lack of treatments, a new study finds
- Tinnitus is a big problem for millions of adults, a study says, and is most prevalent in the elderly. At-risk groups include military personnel and musicians
- The condition is linked to some 200 health issues, including head and neck trauma; the study calls for more research on treatment for tinnitus – it has no cure
Tinnitus, commonly described as a ringing in the ears, may affect about 750 million people around the world, according to new research based on about 50 years of data.
The study, published this week in the research journal Jama Neurology, suggests tinnitus is perceived as a major problem by more than 120 million people, most of whom are 65 or older.
Researchers estimate about 14 per cent of adults experience tinnitus, and two per cent experience a severe form of it. The prevalence also appears to increase with age. Tinnitus is reported in 10 per cent of adults ages 18 to 44, 14 per cent of adults ages 45 to 64, and 24 per cent of those 65 and older.
The findings align with earlier estimates. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates nearly 15 per cent of people, or more than 50 million Americans, experience tinnitus.
The US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says about 10 per cent of US adults, or nearly 25 million people, have experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
