Lifelines participants were asked the following questions about health issues with their ears (section: Diseases & symptoms).
Note that the impact of hearing loss was assessed using the HHIA questionnaire.
| Questions English | Questions Dutch | Code | Variable | Assessment | Age |
| do you need a hearing aid? | hebt u een gehoorapparaat nodig? | hearing_aid_adu_q_1 | HEALTH70 | 1A | 18+ |
| are you limited by problems with your hearing in daily life? | wordt u in het dagelijks leven beperkt door problemen met uw gehoor? | hearing_limitations_adu_q_1 | HEALTH71 | 1A | 18+ |
| do you hear ringing or whistling in your ear/ears? | hoort u suizen of fluiten in uw oor/oren | tinnitus_presence_adu_q_1 (previously ringingears_presence_adu_q_1) | HEALTH99 | 1B | 18+ |
| do you hear ringing or whistling in your ear(s) for more than 5 min at a time? | hoort u suizen of fluiten in uw oor/oren voor meer dan 5 minuten per keer? | tinnitus_presence_adu_q_2 | HEALTH99a | 3B | 18+ |
| do you wear (a) hearing aid(s)? | Draagt u een hoortoestel(len)? | hearing_aid_adu_q_2 | gehoor1 | 3B | 18+ |
| do you experience problems with your hearing and/or balance? If so, which problem? | Ervaart u problemen met uw gehoor en/of evenwicht? Zo ja, welke? | hearing_problems_adu_q_1_a1-11 | gehoor2 | 3B | 18+ |
| in what year did the tinnitus start? | In welk jaar is de tinnitus begonnen? | tinnitus_startyear_adu_q_1 | tin1 | 3B | 18+ |
| how did the tinnitus start? | Hoe is de tinnitus ontstaan? | tinnitus_cause_adu_q_1 | tin2 | 3B | 18+ |
| could the start of the tinnitus be explained by a specific event? If so, what event (as far as you know)? | Kan het ontstaan van de tinnitus verklaard worden door een bepaalde gebeurtenis? Zo ja, welke gebeurtenis (zo ver u weet)? | tinnitus_event_adu_q_1 | tin3 | 3B | 18+ |
| where do you usually hear the tinnitus? | Waar hoort u de tinnitus meestal? | tinnitus_location_adu_q_1 | tin4 | 3B | 18+ |
| in the run of the day, when do you hear your tinnitus? | In de loop van de dag, wanneer hoort u uw tinnitus? | tinnitus_time_adu_q_1 | tin5 | 3B | 18+ |
| do you perceive your tinnitus as rhythmical? | Ervaart u uw tinnitus als ritmisch? | tinnitus_rhythm_adu_q_1 | tin6 | 3B | 18+ |
| what is the pitch of your tinnitus? | Wat is de toonhoogte van uw tinnitus? | tinnitus_pitch_adu_q_1 | tin7 | 3B | 18+ |
| can you describe the general loudness of your tinnitus? | Kunt u de gemiddelde luidheid van uw tinnitus beschrijven? | tinnitus_loudness_adu_q_1 | tin8 | 3B | 18+ |
| how much do you suffer from your tinnitus on average? | Hoeveel last heeft u van uw tinnitus gemiddeld genomen? | tinnitus_severity_adu_q_1 | tin9 | 3B | 18+ |
| were you treated for your tinnitus? If so, what was the effect of the treatment on your tinnitus? | Bent u onder behandeling geweest voor uw tinnitus? Zo ja, wat was het effect van de behandeling op uw tinnitus? | tinnitus_treatment_adu_q_1 | tin10 | 3B | 18+ |