[Large-scale observation of age-related hearing impairment in physical examination population]

Objective:To investigate the current situation of hearing and the changing trend of hearing loss in all age groups in Hunan Province, and to explore the incidence of age-related hearing impairment and the feasibility of early screening in aging people. Method:A total of 13 681 subjects were divided into different age groups of 31-40 years old, 41-50 years old, 51-60 years old, 61-70 years old, 71-80 years old, and >80 years old. The average value of speech frequency hearing threshold （0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kHz frequency） was calculated as an average hearing threshold. 4.0 and 8.0 kHz were high frequency sounds, hearing threshold > 25 dB at 4.0 and 8.0 kHz is the high-frequency pure-tone hearing loss. Result:The proportion of hearing loss was the lowest in the 31-40 years old group （6.8%）, whereas the proportion of hearing loss was the highest in the >80-year-old group （91.6%）. The proportion and degree of hearing loss increased with the increase of age （P<0.05）; the proportion of people with normal speech frequency threshold but with the high-frequency pure-tone hearing loss also increased with the increase of age, the difference between the groups was statistically significant （P<0.05）; the proportion of the speech frequency hearing loss was significantly higher in >60 years old group than that of the 31-60 years old group, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Conclusion:The proportion and degree of hearing loss in adult populations in Hunan Province significantly increased with age; hearing loss show up in the early age of the elderly; people with normal speech frequency hearing threshold should also routinely perform the high-frequency hearing test; speech frequency and high-frequency pure-tone hearing testing could be used in early detection of pre-sensual hearing loss, and its extent of routine hearing impairment screening will facilitate early intervention.