Risk factors related to age-associated hearing loss in the speech frequencies.
This paper examines the relationship between several risk factors and the development of age-associated hearing loss in the speech frequencies. Hearing loss is defined as an average threshold level of 30 dB HL or greater at the frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz. Hearing thresholds from 0.5 to 8 kHz using a pulse-tone tracking procedure were collected on participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal study of Aging since 1965. A proportional hazards regression model was used to study the relationship between several risk factors that have previously been found to be associated with numerous health-related outcomes and the length of follow-up time until the occurrence of unilateral or bilateral hearing loss in a screened group of 531 men. Risk factors considered are age, blood pressure, and alcohol and cigarette consumption. After controlling for age, only systolic blood pressure showed a significant relationship with hearing loss in the speech frequencies (p < .05). Since blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor, these results suggest that preventing hypertension might contribute to an effective program for the prevention of apparent age-associated hearing loss.
Brant
L J
LJ
Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
Gordon-Salant
S
S
Pearson
J D
JD
Klein
L L
LL
Morrell
C H
CH
Metter
E J
EJ
Fozard
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013067:Speech Perception