Introduction
Hearing loss is common and associated with poorer health and impeded communication.
Little is known about the association between hearing loss and substance use disorders
in the general population. The objective of this study was to assess substance use
disorder prevalence among individuals with hearing loss, versus those without hearing
loss, in a nationally representative sample of adults.
Methods
Two years (2015 and 2016) of National Survey on Drug Use and Health (unweighted N=86,186)
were combined to compare substance use disorders among adults with and without self-reported
hearing loss. Statistical analysis included descriptive frequencies, chi-square tests,
and multiple logistic regressions. Analyses were performed in 2018.
Results
Hearing loss prevalence across all age groups was 5.2%. Among younger age groups,
after adjusting for sociodemographics, hearing loss was independently associated with
an increased likelihood of experiencing a substance use disorder (ages 18–34 years,
AOR=1.34, 95% CI=1.10, 1.64 vs 35–49 years, AOR=1.87, 95% CI=1.39, 2.53). Hearing
loss was also associated with a greater likelihood of a prescription opioid use disorder
(AOR=2.85, 95% CI=1.86, 4.39) in the group aged 18–34 years and, for the group aged
35–49 years, hearing loss increased the likelihood of both an alcohol use disorder
(AOR=1.87, 95% CI=1.39, 2.53) and a prescription opioid use disorder (AOR=1.99, 95%
CI=1.01, 3.91).
Conclusions
Hearing loss is independently associated with substance use disorders among those
aged 49 years and younger; these associations are particularly pronounced for prescription
opioid use disorders in the group aged 18–34 years. Given the concern of inappropriate
use of prescription opioids, this information may have implications for healthcare
providers’ pain management for patients with hearing loss.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 14, 2019
This activity is available for CME credit. See page A4 for information.Identification
Copyright
© 2018 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
