Clinical and audiometric features of presbycusis in Nigerians

Abstract

Background: 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. Objective: To characterize the clinical modes of presentation and the typical audiometric tracings among patients with presbycusis. Methods: This descriptive, prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.

Diclofenac induced sudden sensorineural hearing loss

“…In patients with diabetes, two possible mechanisms have been proposed, microangiopathic lesions in the inner ear leading to cochlear hearing disorder or primary neuropathy of the cochlear nerve resulting in a retrocochlear hearing loss. [10] Unlike our patient's sudden clinical presentation of SNHL, diabetes associated hearing loss is usually progressive, bilateral, sensorineural of gradual onset. [13] Moreover, the patient's glycemic levels were controlled.…”

“…[9] While diclofenac is found to be associated with hearing loss, other insults to the cochlea from diabetes mellitus, hypertension and aging may also contribute to the decline in hearing experienced by the patient. Presbycusis or age-related hearing loss, which occurs due to degenerative changes in the cochlear hair cells and neurons in the cochlear nerve and its central auditory connections, [10] is bilaterally symmetrical, usually insidious in onset, gradually progressing and starts from middle age and continues into older years. [4,10] However, our patient had no history of hearing loss previously and the current presentation was a sudden onset.…”

“…Presbycusis or age-related hearing loss, which occurs due to degenerative changes in the cochlear hair cells and neurons in the cochlear nerve and its central auditory connections, [10] is bilaterally symmetrical, usually insidious in onset, gradually progressing and starts from middle age and continues into older years. [4,10] However, our patient had no history of hearing loss previously and the current presentation was a sudden onset. Our patient could have been at increased risk of diclofenac induced ototoxicity because of various old age related factors that contribute to drug accumulation in the body, increased sensitivity to adverse drug reactions and altered metabolism.…”

Perfil audiológico de idosos submetidos à reabilitação vestibular

“…Some studies have found bilateral tinnitus in more than 50% of individuals with presbycusis 26,28 . In this study, tinnitus was the symptom most frequently reported by the participants in both groups, with prevalences similar to the values reported by the abovementioned studies.…”

“…It is considered to be the sensory deficiency most commonly associated with aging, with a prevalence of up to 35% among individuals aged 60 to 70 years old 26 . In this study, more than 70% of the sample exhibited mild-to-moderate hearing loss (Table 4), with a mild downward sloping configuration in both groups (Table 3).…”