| Age Related Hearing Loss in Korea: A Healthcare Center-based Study |
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Joong Ho Ahn, Jae Jun Song, Moo Kyun Park, Jun Ho Lee, Sung Won Chae |
1Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
2Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Ilsan, Korea.
3Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
4Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
5Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. schae@kumc.or.kr |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
Age-related hearing loss is a common degenerative disorder among older individuals that warrants attention in a society with an aging population. The objectives of this study were to investigate age-related hearing loss and to estimate the prevalence of age-related hearing loss in Korea using a healthcare center-based study.
METHODS
Persons older than 50 years of age visiting a selected health promotion center were recruited (n=10,118). Pure tone audiometry was performed on the subjects, and the average hearing thresholds were obtained using 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz for the six-dimension method.
RESULTS
The prevalences of age-related hearing loss for subjects older than 65 years were 36.8% at a cutoff of > or =26 dBHL and 10.1% at a cutoff of > or =41 dBHL. When age and gender were corrected for, the estimated prevalences of age related hearing loss for those subjects greater than 65 years in the general population were 45.8% at a cutoff value of > or =26 dBHL and 14.8% at a cutoff value of > or =41 dBHL.
CONCLUSION
Our study provides important information concerning age-related hearing loss in Korea. The estimated prevalence of age-related hearing loss in the general population in Korea was high. |
| Key Words:
Age related hearing loss, Prevalence, Pure tone audiometry |
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