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Age variation in the upper limit of hearing
S Takeda1, I Morioka, K Miyashita
1Department of Hygiene, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
Summary
The upper limit of hearing declines with age, starting subtly in early adulthood and accelerating after 40, leading to presbycousis. This study quantifies age-related hearing changes in over 6000 individuals.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Hearing ability naturally declines with age, a phenomenon known as presbycousis.
- Quantifying age-related hearing changes is crucial for understanding auditory health.
- The upper limit of hearing is a sensitive indicator of auditory function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for the upper limit of hearing across a wide age range.
- To investigate the relationship between age and the upper limit of hearing.
- To identify the progression of age-related hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Measured the upper limit of hearing in 6105 otologically normal ears.
- Subjects ranged in age from 5 to 89 years.
- Established standard upper limit age curves using percentiles (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th) for each age group.
Main Results:
- The upper limit of hearing showed a near-normal distribution on a logarithmic scale for ages 5-59.
- The distribution's mode shifted to lower frequencies with increasing age.
- Hearing deterioration began in early childhood, accelerated after age 40, and became more pronounced with age.
Conclusions:
- The upper limit of hearing is a robust parameter for quantifying age-related hearing changes.
- Age-related hearing loss (presbycousis) is a progressive condition detectable from early adulthood.
- Normative data established can aid in the clinical assessment of hearing function across the lifespan.