Early Detection of High-frequency Presbycusis Among Normal Hearing Individuals

• Published in: Otology & neurotology Vol. 41; no. 8; p. e989
• Main Authors: Aziz, Azliana, Md Daud, Mohd Khairi, Nik Othman, Nik Adilah, Abd Rahman, Normastura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold; Cross-Sectional Studies; Hearing; Humans; Middle Aged; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Presbycusis - diagnosis; Presbycusis - epidemiology; Quality of Life
• ISSN: 1537-4505
• DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002725

Presbycusis is an age-related sensorineural hearing loss and it may reduce quality of life. We conducted a study to establish the prevalence of high-frequency presbycusis in normal hearing individuals and to validate the role of extended high-frequency distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in the screening. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 normal hearing adult participants with an age range between 25 and 54 years old. Hearing analysis with extended high-frequency pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and high-frequency DPOAE was carried out for all eligible participants. High-frequency presbycusis was considered to be present when the impairment of more than 25 dB occurs at higher than 8 kHz frequencies on both ears. Prevalence of high-frequency presbycusis using extended PTA was 31.7 (95% CI: 25.3, 38.1) and using high-frequency DPOAE was 57.4 (95% CI: 50.7, 64.4). The sensitivity and specificity of high-frequency DPOAE in detecting high-frequency presbycusis were 72.3 and 49.3% respectively with positive predictive value of 39.8% and negative predictive value of 79.3%. The association between age and high-frequency presbycusis was significant based on high-frequency DPOAE (p = 0.029). The prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss is higher with increasing in age. High-frequency DPOAE may be used as a screening tool followed by confirmation using extended PTA. The early detection of presbycusis is important so that measures can be taken to prevent more severe problems developing.