[Audiological findings of the aging across the urban and rural of Suzhou].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the epidemiological characteristics of old people's hearing.


METHODS
Questionnaires, physical examination, audiometry and bio-chemical tests were performed on the elders above 60 years old in part of the urban and rural area of Suzhou with random sample survey.


RESULTS
A total of 1,040 individuals was investigated, among which 505 were from urban, and 535 were from rural. 33 of 505 senior citizen (6.53%) were nososacusis, 282 (55.84%) were presbycusis and 21 (4.16%) were noise-induced deafness; In the rural area, 35 of 535 (6.54%) were nososacusis, 232 (43.36%) were presbycusis, and 4 (0.75%) were noise deafness. There was significant difference of the incidence of presbycusis between urban and rural. The audiometric thresholds chart manifested that the threshold elevated with age increasing especially in high-frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
The etiology of hearing loss of elders was mainly due to presbycusis. The higher incidence of psychotic disorder in urban probably caused a correspondingly higher incidence of presbycusis. So the prevention and cure of some age-induced diseased (e.g. hypertension, arteriosclerosis and diabetes) may be helpful to release and improve presbycusis.
Tang
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Suzhou 215006.
Bu
X
X
Yao
Q
Q
Xie
Q
Q
Qian
M
M
Hu
Y
Y
Yu
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data