Secondhand smoke and sensorineural hearing loss in adolescents

Anil K. Lalwani, Ying Hua Liu, Michael Weitzman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in adolescents. Design: A complex, multistage, stratified geographic area design for collecting representative data from the non-institutionalized US population. Participants: Cross-sectional data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2006) were available for 1533 participants 12 to19 years of age who underwent audiometric testing, had serum cotinine levels available, and were not actively smoking. Main Outcome Measures: SNHL was defined as an average pure-tone level greater than 15 dB for 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz (low frequency) and 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz (high frequency). Results: Secondhand smoke exposure, as assessed by serum cotinine levels, was associated with elevated pure-tone hearing thresholds at 2, 3, and 4 kHz, a higher rate of unilateral low-frequency SNHL (11.8% vs 7.5%; P < .04), and a 1.83-fold increased risk of unilateral low-frequency SNHL in multivariate analyses (95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.41). The prevalence of SNHL was directly related to level of SHS exposure as reflected by serum cotinine levels. In addition, nearly 82% of adolescents with SNHL did not recognize hearing difficulties. Conclusions: Secondhand smoke is associated with elevated pure-tone thresholds and an increased prevalence of low-frequency SNHL that is directly related to level of exposure, and most affected individuals are unaware of the hearing loss. Thus, adolescents exposed to SHS may need to be closely monitored for early hearing loss with periodic audiologic testing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)655-662
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume137
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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