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Hearing in the elderly: a test protocol and preliminary results.
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Tromsø, Norway. einar.laukli@rito.no
Scandinavian Audiology. Supplementum
|April 25, 2001
Summary
Age-related hearing loss is common. This study extends hearing data beyond 70 years, assessing both peripheral and central hearing functions in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Hearing sensitivity declines with age, as documented by ISO 7029 up to age 70.
- Existing data on age-related hearing loss needs extension beyond 70 years.
- There is a need to evaluate central auditory processing in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend audiological data for individuals over 70 years.
- To investigate age-related changes in both peripheral and central hearing.
- To assess cognitive functions related to auditory processing in older adults.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive test protocol was applied to subjects aged 60 to over 90.
- Included pure-tone audiometry (125-16 kHz), tympanometry, and speech recognition tests.
- Utilized transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and cognitive evoked potentials (MMN, P300, N400).
Main Results:
- Preliminary findings confirm age-related hearing sensitivity reduction.
- Older subjects exhibited lower speech recognition scores.
- Reduced TEOAE and impaired cognitive responses were observed in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- The study provides extended data on hearing loss in individuals over 70.
- Age impacts both peripheral hearing and central auditory processing.
- Further statistical analysis of data from ~400 subjects is pending.