Age- and Gender-Related Mean Hearing Threshold in a Highly-Screened Population: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012

Abstract

BackgroundIn evaluating hearing disability in medicolegal work, the apportionment of age- and gender-related sensorineural hearing loss should be considered as a prior factor, especially for the elderly. However, in the literature written in the English language no studies have reported on the age- and gender-related mean hearing threshold for the South Korean population.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the mean hearing thresholds in the South Korean population to establish reference data and to identify the age- and gender-related characteristics.MethodsThis study is based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010–2012, which was conducted by the Korean government, the data of which was disclosed to the public. A total of 15,606 participants (unweighted) representing 33,011,778 Koreans (weighted) with normal tympanic membrane and no history of regular or occupational noise exposure were selected and analyzed in this study. The relationship between the hearing threshold level and frequency, age, and gender was investigated and analyzed in a highly-screened population by considering the sample weights of a complex survey design.ResultsA gender ratio difference was found between the unweighted and the weighted designs: male:female, 41.0%: 59.0% (unweighted, participants) vs. 47.2%:52.8% (weighted, representing population). As age increased, the hearing threshold increased for all frequencies. Hearing thresholds of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, and 6 kHz showed a statistical difference between both genders for people older than 30, with the 4 kHz frequency showing the largest difference. This paper presents details about the mean hearing threshold based on age and gender.ConclusionsThe data from KNHANES 2010–2012 showed gender differences at hearing thresholds of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, and 6 kHz in a highly-screened population. The most significant gender difference in relation to hearing threshold was observed at 4 kHz. The hearing thresholds at all of the tested frequencies worsened with increasing age. The mean hearing thresholds suggested in this study will be useful for the formulation of healthcare-related hearing policies and used as reference data for disability ratings for hearing loss due to various causes.

Prevalence of communication disorders in Port Blair-Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…This finding is on par with several other studies. [22][23][24][25] One of the major factor attributed is that workspace involving noisy environment are primarily male dominant. The noise exposure during this phase may be one of the contributing factors to greater incidence of hearing loss amongst males in the current study as well.…”

“…Even in participants with no noise exposure, literature reports a higher incidence of hearing loss in males when compared to females. 25 Also, the majority of the individuals with hearing problems belonged to the geriatric group (as indicated in Table 2). Age-related deterioration of hearing ability has been well established over the years.…”

Estimation of prevalence and screening of communication disorders in North and Middle Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…The results are in consensus with previous studies which also report that these risk factors can lead to communication disorders. 18,19 The lack of appropriate medical facilities and low socio economic status might have lead to these risk factos causing communication disorders. Consanguinity is not common in North and Middle Andaman and it was not a major risk factor.…”

“…An age-wise comparison of the ear-related problems concerning hearing abilities was found to be more in the geriatric population. [18][19][20] This could be attributed to well-established age-related changes in the hearing mechanism. A gender wise comparison of ear-related issues revealed that more men were affected than women.…”

The Effects of Earphone Use and Environmental Lead Exposure on Hearing Loss in the Korean Population: Data Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2010–2013

“…Age is one of the major risk factors for hearing loss, and many studies have demonstrated the association between aging and hearing threshold [22–24]. Recently, mechanistic pathways that could cause age-related degeneration of hearing ability have been suggested [25].…”