Audiometric Profile of Presbyacusis in North India: Georgean Experience of 7000 Cases
- PMID: 40070737
- PMCID: PMC11890799
- DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-05245-y
Audiometric Profile of Presbyacusis in North India: Georgean Experience of 7000 Cases
Abstract
Background: Presbyacusis is common in early 50s, while genetic/ environmental influences that differentially affect presbyacusis seem relevant in racial and regional perspective.
Aim: To describe audiometric profile of presbyacusis in North India and its relevance with age/ gender/ associated comorbidities.
Methods: Audiometric profile of about 7000 patients (> 50y) with SNHL were analysed in terms of curve-profile ('Flat', 'High-Frequency Gently Sloping', 'High-Frequency Steeply Sloping'), 'Mixed category', 'Interaural Asymmetry' and 'Notched Hearing Loss' along with their association with age, gender and co-morbidity status. An attempt was made to compare hearing thresholds across frequencies (0.5,1,2,3,4,6,8 kHz) in pairs. Furthermore, thresholds across different frequencies were compared across age group-pairs using independent t-test and curve-types across various age-categories using chi square test.
Results: Maximum (31.1%) cases were seen early (50-55y). The common co-morbidities included visual(72%), cardiac(33%) and diabetic(25%) dysfunction. The gently sloping configuration was commonest and majority of flat curves were seen in females (gently or steeply sloping in males). In > 80y age no significance was appreciated between gender and type of curve. The interaural asymmetry was significantly associated with age specially in 'lower' age-groups. The comparison of paired thresholds across frequencies, and mean thresholds across paired age groups revealed a very significant relationship.
Conclusion: Mixed type of curves were more common, and females seemed less predisposed to early onset presbyacusis while high frequency slope showed more detrimental effect in males at 'earlier' age. Many thresholds across many frequencies do not predict any relationship with age, necessitating special attention in tuning / calibration of hearing aids. Deterioration every 5 years suggests less expensive aid with 5y-life to be manufactured for better economy and noise pollution in particular should be considered for community control.
Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-05245-y.
Keywords: Audiometry curves; Curves; Hearing aid; Presbyacusis; Risk factors.
© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing InterestsNo competing interest to be disclosed.
References
-
- Gates GA, Cooper JC, William BK, Miller NJ (1990) Hearing in the elderly: the Framingham Cohort, 1983–1985. Part I. Basic Audiometric Test results. Ear Hear 11:247–256 - PubMed
-
- Parving A, Biering-Sorensen M, Bech B, Christensen B, Sorensen MS (1997) Hearing in the Elderly ³ 80 years of age. Prevalence of problems and sensitivity. Scan Audiol 26:99–106 - PubMed
-
- Uchida Y, Nakashima T, Ando F, Niino N, Shimokata H (2003) Prevalence of self-perceived auditory problems and their relation to audiometric thresholds in a middle-aged to elderly population. Acta Otolaryngol 123(5):618–626 - PubMed
-
- Uimonen S, Maki-Torkko E, Jounio-Ervasti K, Sorri M (1997) Hearing in 55 to 75 year old people in northern Finland-a comparison of two classifications of hearing impairment. Acta Otolaryngol 33:53–59 - PubMed
-
- Russo JCP, Almeida K (1996) Considerações sobre a seleção e adaptação de próteses auditivas para o idoso. In: Almeida K, Iorio MCM (eds) Próteses auditivas. Fundamentos teóricos & Aplicações clínicas. Lovise, São Paulo, pp 177–185