Hearing of the aged: analysis of the perception of auditory damage, audiologic profile and their correlations

Abstract

Objective: To study the hearing of the aged, their auditory damage, audiologic profile and their correlations. Methods: The research occurred from July, 2003 to June, 2004. The sample consisted of 60 subjects, being 42 (70%) female and 18 (30%) male, in the age group of 61 to 86 years old. The questionnaire Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly- Screening Version (HHIE-S) was applied and the examinations of acoustic emittance, audiometry and evoked distortion product otoacoustic emissions (EDPOAE) were accomplished. Results: The results evidenced that the probability of 13% of hearing loss was more referred in relation to males and in more advanced age groups. In the audiometry, there was a rise in the thresholds as both the sound frequencies and the sample’s age increased. In the EDPOAE, there was a worsening in the amplitude of the bands of higher frequencies. Association between HHIE-S and the audiometry, HHIE-S and EDPOAE occurred, with sensitivity of 84.4% and 80.9%. It was referred by the elderly in greater proportion, a more favorable perception of the auditory damage. An association between the auditory examinations and the questionnaire was evidenced, showing good sensitivity. Conclusion: It is concluded that with the increase of the age and the frequencies, in the studied sample of elders, there was a compromising of the auditory thresholds, mainly in males, demonstrating compatibility in the answers of the auditory examinations.