{
  "abstract": "Objective: Hearing loss (HL) has been linked to a pro-inflammatory diet. This study evaluated the association between HL and the Energy-Adjusted Children's Dietary Inflammatory Index (EC-DII), a comprehensive inflammatory assessment of dietary nutrients in children. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for children aged 6 to 14 years who completed both audiometric testing and 24-h dietary assessments between 2005 and 2020. HL was defined as audiometric thresholds ≥16 dB on the pure-tone average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz for speech frequency (SFHL) and 3, 4, and 6 kHz for high frequency (HFHL). EC-DII scores (Energy-adjusted per 1000 kcal to account for differences in total energy intake) were calculated for each participant and classified into quartile I-IV. The association was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models, with statistical significance reported as p -values, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: In adjusted regression analysis model, EC-DII scores were significantly associated with an increased risk of HFHL (OR = 1.16, CI = 1.06–1.27, p = 0.001) and SFHL (OR = 1.16, CI = 1.04–1.30, p = 0.009). EC-DII quartile IV, the highest level of dietary inflammation, was associated with an increased risk of HFHL (OR = 1.33; CI 1.09–1.6, p = 0.004) and SFHL (OR = 1.31, CI 1.06–1.63, p = 0.017). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that higher EC-DII scores, as well as the highest dietary inflammatory level quartile IV, were significantly associated with HL. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, causal inferences and temporal relationships could not be established. Therefore, the potential contribution of a pro-inflammatory diet, as quantified by the EC-DII, to the development of HL in children requires further investigation through prospective cohort studies and well-designed clinical trials.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Hang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware, 1600 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA",
    "Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware, 1600 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA; Corresponding authors.",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Hang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China",
    "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Hang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Corresponding authors."
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lei Lei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zhaoping He"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoru Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Haiyang Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jian Zou"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdsx24fr66wpg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104963",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196070926001791",
  "id": "cdsx24fr66wpg",
  "issns": [
    "1532-818X",
    "0196-0709"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104963",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RF1-547"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Nutritional Studies and Diet"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220836136",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196070926001791/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdsx24fr66wpg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:43:44Z",
      "native_id": "add226d77e664b47b72e6189f16af9e8",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104963"
    }
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2739|Nutritional Studies and Diet",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Association of the energy-adjusted children's dietary inflammatory index with hearing loss in school-aged children: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2005–2020",
  "title_text": "Association of the energy-adjusted children's dietary inflammatory index with hearing loss in school-aged children: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2005–2020",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:43:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdsx24fr66wpg",
  "venue": "American Journal of Otolaryngology",
  "versions": []
}