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Hearing Loss in the Elderly
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1985
Year
Hearing HealthNoiseConservative DefinitionAuditory ScienceHealth SciencesAural RehabilitationSpeech PerceptionGeriatricsAudiologyReference PopulationHearing DisordersRehabilitationAuditory ResearchHuman HearingGeriatric AudiologyEpidemiologyHearing LossAuditory PhysiologyArtsHearing Detection
The study used epidemiologic methods to examine hearing loss in the elderly. The authors analyzed the Framingham Heart Study Cohort of 935 men and 1,358 women aged 57–89, defined hearing loss as >20 dB at any frequency 0.5–4 kHz, and built a multivariate model to assess risk factors. Hearing loss prevalence was 83 %, largely sensorineural, with women better at higher frequencies, and age, sex, illness, family history, Menière’s disease, and noise exposure were significant risk factors, age being the most critical.
This study used epidemiologic methods to examine hearing loss in the elderly. The Framingham Heart Study Cohort was the reference population. The participants were 935 men and 1358 women, aged 57 to 89 years. Using a conservative definition of hearing loss as threshold levels greater than 20 dB above audiometric zero for at least one frequency from 0.5 to 4 kHz, the prevalence was estimated to be 83%. The majority of cases displayed a sensorineural hearing loss. There were no statistically significant differences by sex at 1 kHz and below. Women had significantly better hearing than men at 2 kHz and above. A multivariate model was constructed to determine which variables had a significant impact upon hearing loss. Under the model, age, sex, illness, family history of hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and noise exposure were significant population risk factors. Age was by far the most critical risk factor.