These include:

• Ever regularly exposed to loud noise on the job (HRISKWRKEV, 2007)

• Time regularly exposed to loud noise at job (HRISKWRKTIM, 2007)

• Ever exposed to leisure-time loud noise once a month (HRISKFUNEV, 2007)

• Exposed to leisure-time noise, past 12 months (HRISKFUNYR, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Motorcycles or auto racing (HRISKAUTO, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Operating farm machinery (HRISKFARM, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Firearms (HRISKGUN, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: MP3 player or iPod (HRISKIPOD, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Lawn mower or snow blower (HRISKMOWER, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Playing in a music group (HRISKMUSGP, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: Other music-related activities (HRISKMUSOTH, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: wood cutting or power tools (HRISKTOOLS, 2007)

• Hearing loss risk: other noisy, non-work activities (HRISKOTHER, 2007)

In 2007, this variable was part of a Sample Adult Hearing Supplement, (sponsored by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The hearing supplement questions were included to address the Healthy People 2010 program initiatives, including reducing adult hearing loss in the noise-exposed public. Other topics addressed in the supplement were:

Onset and concerns of hearing problem

• Referred to an audiologist, past 5 years (HRAUD, 2007 only)

• Referred to a hearing specialist, past 5 years (HRSPEC, 2007 only)

• When last saw doctor about hearing problem (HRPROBMDGYR, 2007 only)

• Told of hearing problem by friends or relatives (HRFAM, 2007 only)

• Cause of hearing loss (HRCAUSE1,2007, 2003)

• Hearing loss sudden or gradual (HRSUDDEN, 2007)

• Frequency hearing causes worry about safety (HRSAFETY, 2007)

• Age at beginning of adult's hearing loss (HEARDAAGE, 1999, 2002, 2007)

• Hearing is worse in one ear (HRWORSE, 2007-2008)

• Which ear is worse (HRWHICH, 2007-2008)

• Hearing without hearing aid, left ear (HRLEFT ,1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007-2008)

• Hearing without hearing aid, right ear (HRRIGHT, 1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007-2008)

• Can hear and understand someone who whispers from across a quiet room (HRWHISP, 2007 only)

• Can hear and understand someone who shouts from across a quiet room (HRSHOUT 2007 only)

• Can hear and understand if someone speaks loudly in the "better ear" from across a quiet room (HRSPEAK, 2007 only)

• Can hear and understand if someone talks in a normal voice from across a room (HRTALK, 2007 only)

• Trouble with hearing in presence of background noise (HRBACK,2007 only)

• Access to hearing services and assistive devices: see HRALDUSE, used assistive-listening device

• Hearing aid related variables : see HRAEV, ever wore a hearing aid

• Reasons for not using hearing devices when recommended: see HRAREC, hearing aid ever recommended but never used

For a full list of hearing related variables available for all years, see HEARING, quality of hearing, available for 1997-2009.