BEIJING, March 3(Xinhuanet)-- Nearly 130 million Chinese people-- ten percent of the population-- have tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears. One hundred million of these are young and middle-aged people, the China Disabled Persons' Federation(DPF) said Thursday.

"Most young patients' tinnitus is developed from too much stress," said Hua Qingquan, an Ear Nose Throat(E.N.T) doctor withthe People's Hospital of Wuhan University in central China's HubeiProvince.

Thursday, China's Sixth National Ear Care Day, saw a surging campaign to spread ear protection information and to publicize theconcerns of ear problem sufferers.

The DPF also said that about 10 million Chinese elders over 60 have some degree of hearing loss, even deafness.

"Deafness in the elders can induce other health problems such as senile dementia, because of a lack of communication with others," said Hua.

Experts suggested young people learn how to release pressures from work. In some provinces, local E.N.T. doctors visited families and communities with senior citizens to give information on hearing problems.