Tinnitus Trends in Young Adults from 2008 to 2023: Prevalence and Duration

Introduction: Tinnitus is one of the most common otologic symptoms in the general population but with limited data on the prevalence in young adults. Recent concerns regarding noise exposure in young adults raise the question of potential increasing prevalence of tinnitus in this age group.

Methods: The adult National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) for calendar years 2008 and 2023 were interrogated for specific tinnitus related symptoms among young adults (ages 18-24). The prevalence of tinnitus in the past 12 months and the overall duration of tinnitus symptoms were determined and compared between the two survey years.

Results: An estimated 28.9 and 29.6 million young adults (mean age, 21.0 and 21.1 years, p=0.312; 50.0% and 49.6% female, p=0.752.) were studied for each calendar year, respectively.

In 2008, an estimated 1.68 million young adults (5.8% [4.7-7.2%, 95% confidence interval]) reported tinnitus in the prior 12 months, which in 2023 increased to 2.30 million young adults (7.8% [6.5-9.3%]) (p=0.030). In 2008, 45.3% (33.8-57.4%) reported that their tinnitus duration was one year or less versus 21.5% (14.7-30.3%) in 2023 (p < 0.001). In contradistinction, in 2008, 22.4% (15.0-32.2%) reported that their tinnitus was 5 years or more in duration, increasing to 39.7 (30.9-49.3%) in 2023 (p < 0.001).

Among 2023 young adults, tinnitus was reported to be a moderate or big problem in 8.7% and 3.1% of respondents, respectively, and only 10.1% saw a medical specialist for their tinnitus.

Conclusions: Nationally representative data indicate a significantly increasing prevalence and duration of tinnitus among young adults and a substantial self-perceived impact. This increasing prevalence of tinnitus may reflect underlying issues of noise exposure and merits further ongoing surveillance.