Revisiting Age-Related Normative Hearing Levels in Korea
Sang-Yoon Han1, Hee Won Seo1, Seung Hwan Lee1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Journal of Korean Medical Science
|January 14, 2025
Summary
This study establishes normal hearing levels for South Koreans and reveals that hearing loss significantly worsens with age, particularly in men. Annual hearing decline averages 0.71 dB, increasing with higher frequencies.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- No established hearing level reference values for the general South Korean population.
- Need to evaluate age-specific hearing and track hearing loss progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- Establish normative hearing level data across age groups in South Korea.
- Quantify the annual progression rate of age-related hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 8th and 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2020-2022).
- Included participants with normal tympanic membranes and no occupational noise exposure.
- Calculated mean hearing levels (0.5-4 kHz) and defined hearing loss (better ear >25 dB HL).
Main Results:
- Hearing levels and prevalence of hearing loss increase with age, from 9.11 dB in the 40s to 31.95 dB in the 70s.
- Hearing loss prevalence rises from 1.81% (40s) to 63.94% (70s).
- Annual hearing level increase is 0.71 dB, with greater progression at higher frequencies; men exhibit worse hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Provides age-specific reference values for normal hearing in South Korea.
- Highlights the progressive nature of age-related hearing loss.
- Informs clinical guidance on hearing monitoring for the elderly.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:53Sound Intensity Level
4.1K
Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
4.1K
01:31Hearing
51.8K
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
51.8K
01:01Perception of Sound Waves
4.4K
The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
4.4K