Related Experiment Videos
Presbyacusis-hearing thresholds and the ISO 7029
Niels Christian Stenklev1, Einar Laukli
1ENT Department, University Hospital of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway. niels.christian.stenklev@unn.no
International Journal of Audiology
|September 11, 2004
Summary
Age-related hearing loss affects pure-tone hearing thresholds, particularly in extended high frequencies. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7029 standard may underestimate hearing in older females and its screening criteria may be unreliable for those over 60.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Age-related hearing impairment, or presbycusis, is a significant public health concern affecting the elderly population.
- Existing audiological standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7029, provide normative data for hearing thresholds but may require validation in diverse populations.
- Understanding age and gender-related changes in hearing is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze age-related changes in pure-tone hearing thresholds using conventional and extended high-frequency audiometry.
- To compare hearing thresholds in otologically normal (ON) elderly subjects with the ISO 7029 standard.
- To investigate gender and age group differences in hearing thresholds and the reliability of ON screening criteria in older adults.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 232 elderly subjects underwent a battery of audiological tests, including pure-tone audiometry.
- Data were analyzed using mathematical transformations and compared against ISO 7029 normative distributions.
- Sixty otologically normal (ON) subjects were selected for comparative analysis with the unscreened (US) sample.
Main Results:
- The ISO 7029 alpha coefficient may underestimate hearing thresholds in ON females at lower frequencies.
- Hearing thresholds significantly deteriorated with age in the extended high-frequency range among ON subjects.
- No significant gender differences in hearing thresholds were found, though unmeasurable responses were more prevalent in males at certain frequencies.
Conclusions:
- The ISO 7029 standard may require adjustments for the alpha coefficient in females and its ON screening criteria may be unreliable for individuals over 60.
- Age-related hearing decline is evident in the extended high-frequency range, underscoring the importance of comprehensive audiological assessment.
- Further research is needed to refine audiological standards for accurate hearing threshold assessment in the aging population.