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Research Article | Volume 3 Issue 1 (None, 2017) | Pages 66 - 69
Pattern of Hearing Loss and Associated Etiological Factors Among Elderly Patients Visiting ENT OPD: A Prospective Study
 ,
1
Assistant Professor, Department Of ENT, Saraswati Institute Of Medical Sciences, Hapur, India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of ENT, Saraswati Institute Of Medical Sciences, Hapur, India.
Under a Creative Commons license
Open Access
Received
Jan. 28, 2017
Revised
Feb. 13, 2017
Accepted
March 11, 2017
Published
April 20, 2017
Abstract
Background: Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic sensory impairments in elderly individuals and significantly affects communication, cognition, emotional well-being, and quality of life. The prevalence of hearing impairment rises sharply with advancing age, with presbycusis being the most common cause. Other causes include chronic noise exposure, cerumen impaction, chronic otitis media, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ototoxic drug exposure, and hereditary factors. Early diagnosis and management are often delayed because symptoms develop gradually. Aim: To study the pattern of hearing loss and associated etiological factors among elderly patients attending the ENT outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 300 elderly patients aged ≥60 years attending ENT OPD over 12 months. Detailed clinical history, otoscopic examination, tuning fork tests, pure tone audiometry, and relevant laboratory investigations were performed. Hearing loss was classified as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Associated etiological factors were analyzed statistically. Results: Out of 300 patients, 198 (66.0%) had hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss was most common (58.1%), followed by conductive (24.2%) and mixed loss (17.7%). Bilateral involvement was seen in 71.2% patients. Mild hearing loss was most frequent (34.8%), followed by moderate (31.3%). Presbycusis (46.4%) was the leading cause, followed by cerumen impaction (18.2%), chronic otitis media (12.1%), noise exposure (10.6%), diabetes mellitus (9.6%), and ototoxic drug use (7.1%). Significant association was observed with increasing age, diabetes, and hypertension (p<0.05). Conclusion: Sensorineural hearing loss due to presbycusis is the predominant hearing disorder among elderly patients. Routine hearing screening, early audiological assessment, and management of reversible causes can improve quality of life.
Keywords
INTRODUCTION
Population aging is increasing globally, resulting in a higher burden of age-related diseases including hearing impairment. Hearing loss in elderly persons is associated with social withdrawal, depression, reduced independence, poor treatment adherence, and cognitive decline. Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is usually bilateral, progressive, high-frequency sensorineural loss caused by degeneration of cochlear structures and neural pathways. Apart from aging, several modifiable factors such as prolonged occupational noise exposure, metabolic disorders, recurrent ear infections, cerumen impaction, smoking, and ototoxic medications contribute to hearing impairment in older adults. Since many elderly patients underreport symptoms, hospital-based screening studies are useful for early intervention. This study was conducted to evaluate hearing loss patterns and associated etiological factors in elderly patients attending ENT OPD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Design Prospective observational hospital-based study. Study Setting Department of ENT, tertiary care teaching hospital. Study Duration January 2015 to December 2015. Sample Size 300 elderly patients. Inclusion Criteria • Age ≥60 years • Willing to participate • Complaints of hearing difficulty, tinnitus, ear blockage, vertigo, or communication difficulty Exclusion Criteria • Congenital deafness • Acute ear trauma • Severe psychiatric illness • Uncooperative patients Methodology All patients underwent: • Detailed history taking • General examination • Otoscopic examination • Tuning fork tests (Rinne, Weber, ABC) • Pure tone audiometry • Blood sugar, BP measurement where indicated Classification of Hearing Loss • Conductive hearing loss • Sensorineural hearing loss • Mixed hearing loss Statistical Analysis SPSS version 20 used. Chi-square test applied. p<0.05 considered significant.
RESULTS
Table 1: Age and Gender Distribution Variable Number (%) 60–69 years 162 (54.0%) 70–79 years 96 (32.0%) ≥80 years 42 (14.0%) Male 176 (58.7%) Female 124 (41.3%) Table 2: Prevalence of Hearing Loss Finding Number (%) Hearing loss present 198 (66.0%) Normal hearing 102 (34.0%) Table 3: Type of Hearing Loss (n=198) Type Number (%) Sensorineural 115 (58.1%) Conductive 48 (24.2%) Mixed 35 (17.7%) Table 7: Risk Factors Associated with Hearing Loss Variable Hearing Loss (%) p-value Age ≥70 years 78.2% 0.001 Diabetes mellitus 74.6% 0.02 Hypertension 71.8% 0.03 Smoking history 69.2% 0.07 Table 4: Severity of Hearing Loss Severity Number (%) Mild 69 (34.8%) Moderate 62 (31.3%) Moderately severe 34 (17.2%) Severe 23 (11.6%) Profound 10 (5.1%) Table 5: Laterality Side Number (%) Bilateral 141 (71.2%) Unilateral 57 (28.8%) Table 6: Associated Etiological Factors Etiology Number (%) Presbycusis 92 (46.4%) Cerumen impaction 36 (18.2%) Chronic otitis media 24 (12.1%) Noise exposure 21 (10.6%) Diabetes mellitus 19 (9.6%) Ototoxic drugs 14 (7.1%) Hypertension 18 (9.1%)
DISCUSSION
This study showed that two-thirds of elderly ENT OPD attendees had measurable hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss was the most common pattern, mainly due to presbycusis. Similar reports indicate that prevalence rises substantially after age 70 years. Bilateral involvement was predominant, which is characteristic of age-related cochlear degeneration. Conductive hearing loss due to cerumen impaction and chronic otitis media was also common, highlighting treatable causes. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension showed significant association, likely due to microvascular compromise affecting cochlear blood supply. Delayed presentation remains common because hearing decline is gradual and often ignored.
CONCLUSION
Hearing loss is highly prevalent among elderly patients visiting ENT OPD. Sensorineural hearing loss due to presbycusis is the commonest pattern, followed by reversible conductive causes such as wax and chronic ear disease. Routine geriatric hearing screening and timely audiological intervention are recommended. Recommendations • Annual hearing screening after age 60 • Early wax removal and treatment of chronic ear disease • Hearing aid counseling for eligible patients • Control of diabetes and hypertension • Public awareness regarding age-related hearing loss Limitations • Single-center study • Hospital-based sample may not reflect community prevalence • Short follow-up duration
REFERENCES
1. Gates GA, Mills JH. Presbycusis. Lancet. 2005;366:1111-20. 2. Cruickshanks KJ, Wiley TL, Tweed TS, et al. Prevalence of hearing loss in older adults. Am J Epidemiol. 1998;148:879-86. 3. Agrawal Y, Platz EA, Niparko JK. Prevalence of hearing loss in US adults. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1522-30. 4. Schuknecht HF, Gacek MR. Cochlear pathology in presbycusis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1993;102:1-16. 5. Bance M. Hearing and aging. CMAJ. 2007;176:925-7. 6. Fook L, Morgan R. Hearing impairment in older people: a review. Postgrad Med J. 2000;76:537-41. 7. Moscicki EK, Elkins EF, Baum HM, et al. Hearing loss in the elderly. Ear Hear. 1985;6:184-90. 8. Pearson JD, Morrell CH, Gordon-Salant S, et al. Gender differences in hearing loss. J Gerontol. 1995;50:M140-8. 9. Wiley TL, Cruickshanks KJ, Nondahl DM, et al. Self-reported hearing handicap. Ear Hear. 2000;21:60-7. 10. Sindhusake D, Mitchell P, Smith W, et al. Hearing loss and quality of life. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:742-8. 11. Lin FR, Niparko JK, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss prevalence in older adults. J Gerontol A. 2011;66:582-90. 12. Yamasoba T, Lin FR, Someya S, et al. Current concepts in age-related hearing loss. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2013;1:15006. 13. Helzner EP, Cauley JA, Pratt SR, et al. Race and sex differences in hearing loss. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53:2119-27. 14. Gates GA, Cooper JC Jr. Incidence of hearing decline in elderly. Laryngoscope. 1991;101:1-7. 15. Davis A. Hearing in adults. Whurr Publishers; 1995. 16. Rosenhall U. Presbyacusis and aging. Audiology. 2003;42:2-6. 17. Parham K. Ototoxicity in older adults. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2011;44:319-28. 18. Wallhagen MI. Hearing loss in older persons. J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36:20-7. 19. Gates GA, Rees TS. Hearing disorders in elderly patients. Med Clin North Am. 1999;83:121-35. 20. WHO. Prevention of blindness and deafness: hearing impairment estimates. Geneva: WHO; 2012.
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