Noise-induced hearing loss evolution: influence of age and exposure to noise

The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of age and exposure to noise in determining the evolution of hearing loss after noise-induced hearing loss has been already established and to define the further evolution of presbycusis. This is a cross-sectional study based on the evaluation of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2010-05, Vol.267 (5), p.665-671
Main Authors: Albera, Roberto, Lacilla, Michelangelo, Piumetto, Elena, Canale, Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aging - physiology
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
Auditory Threshold - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Cochlea - physiopathology
Disease Progression
Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
Female
Head and Neck Surgery
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - complications
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - diagnosis
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - etiology
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Neurosurgery
Noise - adverse effects
Non tumoral diseases
Otology
Otorhinolaryngology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Presbycusis - complications
Severity of Illness Index
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Summary:The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of age and exposure to noise in determining the evolution of hearing loss after noise-induced hearing loss has been already established and to define the further evolution of presbycusis. This is a cross-sectional study based on the evaluation of pure-tone audiometry threshold on 568 subjects affected by noise-induced hearing loss and exposed to noise for at least 10 years; noise exposure at testing was 85–90 dB Leqd(A). The further evolution of hearing loss was found to be more related to age than to noise exposure and was significantly less than expected for presbycusis. In conclusion our data support the hypothesis that once NIHL has manifested, it tends to worsen slightly with continued noise exposure and that progressive hearing loss is chiefly due to aging. However, in individuals with NIHL, age-related hearing loss is significantly less at frequencies damaged by noise than in non-noise-exposed individuals.
ISSN:0937-4477
1434-4726
DOI:10.1007/s00405-009-1096-3