Abstract
Presbycusis is the most common sensory impairment associated with ageing and it presents with variability of symptoms. Physicians need to recognize early clinical and audiometric signs of presbycusis in order to render adequate and quality care to patients and reduce associated morbidities. To characterize the clinical modes of presentation and the typical audiometric tracings among patients with presbycusis. This descriptive, prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic of Olabisi Ona hing Hospital, (OOUTH) Sagamu, Nigeria. Patients with clinical diagnosis of presbycusis confirmed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on diagnostic audiometry were administered with questionnaires. Information obtained was analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 17.0 and presented in descriptive forms as percentages, means and graphs. Sixty-nine patients were diagnosed with presbycusis (M:F =1.6:1). Modal age group was 71-80 years. Hearing loss 88.4%, tinnitus 79.7% and vertigo 33.3% were the major symptoms on presentation. The average duration of symptoms before presentation was 2.6 years. There was positive history of ototoxic drugs usage in 24.6 %, family history in 11.6 %, hypertension in 34.8% and osteoarthritis in 13.0%. The most common type of audiometric pattern was strial. Hearing losses increased with age both at the speech and at the higher frequencies of sounds. We found hearing impairment affected both speech and higher frequencies and the strial type of audiometric pattern was most common. The need for screening for hearing impairment from early middle age in symptomatic individuals is emphasized.
Highlights
Presbycusis is an age-related hearing loss mainly due to degenerative changes in the hair cells of the cochlea and central auditory connections[1]
Patients with clinical diagnosis of presbycusis confirmed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on diagnostic audiometry were administered with questionnaires
We found hearing impairment affected both speech and higher frequencies and the strial type of audiometric pattern was most common
Summary
Presbycusis is an age-related hearing loss mainly due to degenerative changes in the hair cells of the cochlea and central auditory connections[1]. The global increase in the average life expectancy including those of the developing countries suggests that the population of the elderly is on the increase with a projected increase in the incidence and prevalence of Hearing loss of varying degrees remains the most common form of presentation; there is wide variability of symptoms. It is important that physicians recognize early symptoms and signs of presbycusis in order to render adequate and quality care to the patients and reduce the morbidity associated with this disease. Presbycusis is the most common sensory impairment associated with ageing and it presents with variability of symptoms. Physicians need to recognize early clinical and audiometric signs of presbycusis in order to render adequate and quality care to patients and reduce associated morbidities. Conclusions: We found hearing impairment affected both speech and higher frequencies and the strial type of audiometric pattern was most common.
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