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Published on: January 23, 2017
Changes in hearing thresholds over 10 years in older adults
Terry L Wiley1, Rick Chappell, Lakeesha Carmichael
1Department of Speech and Hearing Science, 3466 Lattie F. Coor Hall, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 870102, Tempe, AZ 85287-0102, USA. Terry.Wiley@asu.edu
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|September 18, 2008
Summary
Hearing thresholds change over time, with older adults experiencing declines in lower frequencies and younger adults in higher frequencies. Baseline hearing levels and age significantly predict future hearing threshold changes over a decade.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Hearing loss is a common age-related condition affecting millions globally.
- Understanding the progression of hearing threshold changes is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Longitudinal data on hearing changes in older adults is essential for public health planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document changes in hearing thresholds over a 10-year period in a large cohort of older adults.
- To investigate the influence of age, gender, and baseline hearing levels on hearing threshold progression.
- To identify predictors of long-term hearing threshold changes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2130 adults aged 48-92 years was studied over 10 years.
- Pure-tone hearing thresholds were measured at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz at baseline and at 2.5, 5, and 10 years.
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess changes and identify predictors.
Main Results:
- Younger adults (50-69) showed greater threshold changes at higher frequencies, while older adults (70-89) showed changes at lower frequencies.
- Gender differences in threshold changes were observed at mid-range frequencies (4-6 kHz), particularly in women across different age groups.
- Baseline hearing threshold at a specific frequency was the strongest predictor of the 10-year threshold at that frequency, followed by the adjacent higher frequency.
Conclusions:
- Hearing threshold changes exhibit age- and frequency-dependent patterns.
- Baseline hearing status is a key determinant of future hearing decline.
- Findings have implications for personalized hearing healthcare and age-related hearing loss research.
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