Codes and Frequencies
Description
HRPROBNOWC indicates whether the person now has a chronic hearing problem (other than total deafness in both ears). This variable is created with supplemental programming by the IPUMS NHIS staff from the pre-1997 condition records. For general information about IHIS variables (such as HRPROBNOWC) created from the pre-1997 condition records, see the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables.
Defining Hearing Problem Records and Identifying Persons with a Hearing Problem
For all available years, persons who were asked a direct question about having a hearing problem and who have a chronic hearing problem condition record are given a "Yes" code for HRPROBNOWC. Persons who were asked a direct question about having a hearing problem but do not have a chronic hearing problem record are given a code of "No." Persons who were not asked a direct question about hearing problems, or for whom it is unknown whether they were asked such a question, are given a code of "NIU" (not in universe), regardless of whether they have a chronic hearing problem record.
1971, 1977, and 1978
For 1971, 1977, and 1978, chronic hearing problem records were defined as those condition records with any of the following codes in the variable DIAGR1 in the original NHIS public use files.
- "X07" ("Hearing loss ... involving both ears [other than total deafness in both ears]")
- "X08" ("All hearing impairments involving only one ear")
- "X09" ("Hearing loss, complete or partial, for which it is impossible to determine whether one or both ears are involved")
These condition code values come from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode #1: Diseases, Injuries, and Impairments, not from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Additionally, to be considered "chronic," hearing problem records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CACODE in the original NHIS public use files.
1979 to 1981
For 1979-1981, chronic hearing problem records were defined as those condition records with any of the following codes in the variable DIAGR1 in the original NHIS public use files:
- "X06" (Hearing impairment involving both ears [other than total deafness in both ears]. Any bilateral hearing impairment which cannot be coded to X05 [X05 = Deafness, both ears])
- "X07" ("Deafness or hearing impairment of any degree involving only one ear")
- "X08" ("Deafness, not otherwise specified. Unknown whether one or both ears are involved.")
- "X09" ("Impaired hearing, not otherwise specified. Unknown whether one or both ears are involved.")
These condition code values come from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode #1: Diseases, Injuries, and Impairments, not from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. As with earlier years, to be considered "chronic," hearing problem records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CACODE in the original NHIS public use files.
1982 to 1996
For 1982-1996, chronic hearing problem records were defined as those condition records with either of the following codes in the variable C1CONDRB in the original NHIS public use files:
- "240" ("Otitis media and mastoiditis")
- "249" ("Residual diseases of the ear and mastoid process" [i.e., conditions other than deafness, otitis media, and mastoiditis])
These condition code values come from NCHS's Diagnostic Recode B: Diseases, Injuries, and Impairments, not from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. As with earlier years, to be considered "chronic," hearing problem records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CACODE in the original NHIS public use files.
Weights
For 1971 and 1977, HRPROBNOWC should be weighted with PERWEIGHT.
For 1978 to 1981, HRPROBNOWC should be weighted with CONDWT4.
For 1982 to 1996, HRPROBNOWC should be weighted with CONDWT2.
Comparability
As with all of the person-level condition variables created by IHIS from condition records prior to 1997, the universe for HRPROBNOWC is substantially different for 1978 forward than it is for years prior to 1978. Beginning in 1978, only persons living in 1/6 of households, rather than all persons, were asked a direct question about currently having a hearing problem. There is also a minor universe change between the sets of years 1978-1981 and 1982-1996. These changes require that different weight variables be used depending on which years of data are analyzed. See the "Description" tab for details.
Additionally, there is a change in the way "Yes" responses are coded over time. See the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables for details about the composite coding scheme employed by IHIS.
Universe
- 1971; 1977: All persons.
- 1978-1981: Persons living in 1/6 of households (who received Condition List 4).
- 1982-1996: Persons living in 1/6 of households (who received Condition List 2).
Availability
- 1971, 1977-1996
