Age Related Hearing Loss in Korea: A Healthcare Center-based Study.
10.4235/jkgs.2010.14.4.258
- Author:
Joong Ho AHN
1
;
Jae Jun SONG
;
Moo Kyun PARK
;
Jun Ho LEE
;
Sung Won CHAE
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Age related hearing loss;
Prevalence;
Pure tone audiometry
- MeSH:
Aging;
Audiometry;
Delivery of Health Care;
Health Promotion;
Hearing;
Hearing Loss;
Humans;
Korea;
Prevalence
- From:Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society
2010;14(4):258-264
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Age-related hearing loss is a common degenerative disorder among older individuals that warrants attention in a society with an aging population. The objectives of this study were to investigate age-related hearing loss and to estimate the prevalence of age-related hearing loss in Korea using a healthcare center-based study. METHODS: Persons older than 50 years of age visiting a selected health promotion center were recruited (n=10,118). Pure tone audiometry was performed on the subjects, and the average hearing thresholds were obtained using 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz for the six-dimension method. RESULTS: The prevalences of age-related hearing loss for subjects older than 65 years were 36.8% at a cutoff of > or =26 dBHL and 10.1% at a cutoff of > or =41 dBHL. When age and gender were corrected for, the estimated prevalences of age related hearing loss for those subjects greater than 65 years in the general population were 45.8% at a cutoff value of > or =26 dBHL and 14.8% at a cutoff value of > or =41 dBHL. CONCLUSION: Our study provides important information concerning age-related hearing loss in Korea. The estimated prevalence of age-related hearing loss in the general population in Korea was high.
