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Original Article

Presbycusis among older Chinese people in Taipei, Taiwan: A community-based study

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Pages 738-745 | Received 13 Jan 2007, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and severity of presbycusis in older Chinese people in Taipei, Taiwan. Pure-tone audiometry and a questionnaire were administered to a randomly-recruited cohort of people > 65 years old (n=1221) from a community in Taipei. The study cohort showed pure-tone thresholds worsening, especially at frequencies >2 kHz, with increasing age. The mean pure-tone average at speech frequencies (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) of the better ear of subjects stratified by five-year age groups ranged from 34.9 dB hearing level (HL) to 46.4 dB HL. The pure-tone average at speech frequency in women was slightly higher than that in men in all age groups. The prevalence of presbycusis (M3 ≥ 55 dBHL) was 1.6% (65–69 years), 3.2% (70–74 years), 7.5% (75–79 years), and 14.9% (≥80 years). Persistent tinnitus was present in 13.9% of subjects, and 18.8% of subjects had a history of vertigo. Of subjects with a clinically evident hearing impairment (M3 ≥ 55 dB HL), 18.4% used hearing aids. These data provide estimates of the prevalence and severity of presbycusis in community-dwelling older persons in Taiwan.

Abbreviations
kHz=

Kilo-Hertz

dB=

Decibel

HL=

Hearing level

M3=

The pure-tone threshold average over 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz of the better hearing ear

M4=

The pure-tone threshold average over 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz of the better hearing ear

Abbreviations
kHz=

Kilo-Hertz

dB=

Decibel

HL=

Hearing level

M3=

The pure-tone threshold average over 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz of the better hearing ear

M4=

The pure-tone threshold average over 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz of the better hearing ear

Sumario

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la prevalencia y la severidad de la presbiacusia en las personas mayores Chinas en Taipei, Taiwán. Se realizó una audiometría tonal y se aplicó un cuestionario a una cohorte de mayores de 65 años reclutados al azar (n=1221) de la comunidad de Taipei. El estudio de la cohorte mostró un empeoramiento de los umbrales tonales, especialmente en las frecuencias >2 kHz conforme avanzaba la edad. El promedio de los tonos puros en las frecuencias del lenguaje (0.5, 1 y 2 kHz) en el mejor oído en los sujetos estratificados por quinquenios de edad varió de 34.9 HL a 46.4 HL. El promedio tonal de las frecuencias del lenguaje en mujeres fue ligeramente mayor que el de los hombres en todos los grupos de edad. La prevalencia de la presbiacusia (M3 ≥55 dB HL) fue 1.6% (65–69 años), 3.2% (70–74 años), 7.5% (75–79 años), y 14.9% (≥80 años). 13.9% de los sujetos tenía acúfeno persistente y 18.8% tenían historia de vértigo. De los sujetos con evidencia clínica de hipoacusia (M3 ≥55 dB HL), 18.4% utilizaban auxiliar auditivo. Estos datos proporcionan estimaciones basadas en la comunidad/vivienda de la prevalencia y la severidad de la hipoacusia en Taiwán.

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