CHEARS: Conservation of Hearing Study
About the Study
Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the United States. Approximately 37.5 million U.S. adults report some degree of hearing loss. The condition has a considerable impact on communication, quality of life, safety, and medical and social well-being. However, information on common risk factors for acquired hearing loss is limited. Therefore, the effort to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for hearing loss is vital to public health.
Our research study examines the relation between a number of medical, genetic, dietary, and other lifestyle factors and hearing loss. Our hope is to identify risk factors that can be modified in order to help prevent or delay the onset and progression of hearing loss in adults.
Tinnitus is a persistent ringing, roaring or buzzing sound in the ears or head that is perceived when no external sound is present. Tinnitus affects ~15% of the population, causes considerable distress, and can be disabling. Tinnitus is a complex disorder; the type and severity of symptoms, their course and impact, and the causes can vary widely between individuals. Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss, yet most people with hearing loss do not have tinnitus. Similarly, many who are exposed to loud noise develop tinnitus, but not all individuals with noise exposure develop tinnitus. Although millions of people worldwide have tinnitus, the causes are not well understood and there is no cure. Treatments for tinnitus are often not effective and there is no way to predict who is most likely to benefit.
In CHEARS, we are using a multidisciplinary research approach to improve the understanding of the underlying biology of this challenging condition and to gain insights into different tinnitus subtypes, identify potential treatment targets, and inform the development of personalized therapeutics.
Study Population
Our work is based on data collected from three major ongoing cohort studies that include over 250,000 participants: the Nurses' Health Study I (NHS I), the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). For more information regarding these cohorts, please see Background on the Nurses' Health Studies, the Nurses' Health Study website, or the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study website. We are also planning to conduct investigations among younger individuals in additional cohorts, the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) and the Nurses’ Health Study III (NHS3).
Study Tools
Participants in our cohorts complete annual or biennial questionnaires that collect information on a wide range of health-related factors, including questions regarding hearing health. The responses to these questions provide very useful information that enables us to examine risk factors for hearing loss and tinnitus.
A Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire was also sent to a subset of participants in NHS, NHS II and HPFS. This supplemental questionnaire collected more detailed information on a number of topics relevant to hearing health.
In addition, a subset of NHS II participants who responded to the Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire were invited to participate in the CHEARS Study Audiology Assessment Arm. These participants have undergone baseline and follow-up clinical hearing tests performed by licensed audiologists across the US. In future studies, our goal is for as many participants as possible to be able to self-administer hearing tests at home, using a tablet, smartphone or computer, and to repeat these hearing tests over time to so that we can evaluate factors that may influence changes in their hearing.
Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the United States. Approximately 37.5 million U.S. adults report some degree of hearing loss. The condition has a considerable impact on communication, quality of life, safety, and medical and social well-being. However, information on common risk factors for acquired hearing loss is limited. Therefore, the effort to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for hearing loss is vital to public health.
Our research study examines the relation between a number of medical, genetic, dietary, and other lifestyle factors and hearing loss. Our hope is to identify risk factors that can be modified in order to help prevent or delay the onset and progression of hearing loss in adults.
Tinnitus is a persistent ringing, roaring or buzzing sound in the ears or head that is perceived when no external sound is present. Tinnitus affects ~15% of the population, causes considerable distress, and can be disabling. Tinnitus is a complex disorder; the type and severity of symptoms, their course and impact, and the causes can vary widely between individuals. Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss, yet most people with hearing loss do not have tinnitus. Similarly, many who are exposed to loud noise develop tinnitus, but not all individuals with noise exposure develop tinnitus. Although millions of people worldwide have tinnitus, the causes are not well understood and there is no cure. Treatments for tinnitus are often not effective and there is no way to predict who is most likely to benefit.
In CHEARS, we are using a multidisciplinary research approach to improve the understanding of the underlying biology of this challenging condition and to gain insights into different tinnitus subtypes, identify potential treatment targets, and inform the development of personalized therapeutics.
Study Population
Our work is based on data collected from three major ongoing cohort studies that include over 250,000 participants: the Nurses' Health Study I (NHS I), the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). For more information regarding these cohorts, please see Background on the Nurses' Health Studies, the Nurses' Health Study website, or the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study website. We are also planning to conduct investigations among younger individuals in additional cohorts, the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) and the Nurses’ Health Study III (NHS3).
Study Tools
Participants in our cohorts complete annual or biennial questionnaires that collect information on a wide range of health-related factors, including questions regarding hearing health. The responses to these questions provide very useful information that enables us to examine risk factors for hearing loss and tinnitus.
A Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire was also sent to a subset of participants in NHS, NHS II and HPFS. This supplemental questionnaire collected more detailed information on a number of topics relevant to hearing health.
In addition, a subset of NHS II participants who responded to the Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire were invited to participate in the CHEARS Study Audiology Assessment Arm. These participants have undergone baseline and follow-up clinical hearing tests performed by licensed audiologists across the US. In future studies, our goal is for as many participants as possible to be able to self-administer hearing tests at home, using a tablet, smartphone or computer, and to repeat these hearing tests over time to so that we can evaluate factors that may influence changes in their hearing.