[Ultrahigh-frequency hearing thresholds in middleaged and elderly healthy adults]

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Gerontology
• Otolaryngology
• Hearing Science

Background:

• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a common sensory impairment affecting communication and quality of life.
• Conventional audiometry may not fully capture early changes in hearing, particularly at higher frequencies.
• Ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) hearing, beyond the standard range, may offer insights into incipient auditory changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) hearing thresholds in healthy middle-aged (50-59 years) and elderly (60-69 years) subjects.
• To compare UHF hearing thresholds between different age groups and with young adult controls.
• To evaluate the potential of UHF audiometry as an early indicator of age-induced hearing loss.

Main Methods:

• Healthy subjects aged 50-69 were divided into two groups (50-59 and >59-69 years).
• Conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and ultrahigh-frequency (9-20 kHz) audiometry were performed.
• Young adults (20-29 years) served as normal hearing controls.

Main Results:

• Hearing thresholds were significantly higher in middle-aged and elderly groups compared to young controls, especially at frequencies ≥4 kHz.
• UHF thresholds showed significant increases with age, particularly at 9-12.5 kHz, with some subjects unable to detect thresholds ≥12.5 kHz.
• Standard deviations in hearing thresholds increased with age, indicating greater variability in hearing sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Hearing loss in middle-aged and elderly individuals can manifest from 4 kHz, with UHF thresholds increasing significantly with age.
• UHF audiometry shows promise as an early diagnostic tool for age-related hearing impairment.
• Sensitivity in UHF hearing decreases beyond 14 kHz, and response rates diminish at very high frequencies (18-20 kHz).