Prediction of the pure-tone average from the speech reception and auditory brainstem response thresholds in a geriatric population.
BACKGROUND
Although the pure-tone average (PTA) remains the standard assessment of hearing status, its results are questionable in the difficult-to-test geriatric population. In this study, we assessed the relationship between the 4-frequency PTA, speech reception threshold (SRT) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold in the aged. We developed an equation as a tool to predict the actual PTA.


METHODS
Forty-six subjects more than 60 years of age were consecutively enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent hearing threshold evaluation by means of PTA, SRT and ABR testing on both ears. Using simple linear and multiple regressions, the correlation and multiple regression models between PTA, SRT and ABR thresholds were calculated.


RESULTS
The Pearson correlation coefficient between pure-tone thresholds (PTTs) and SRT was highest at 0.5-2 kHz (r = 0.948). The Pearson correlation coefficient between PTTs and ABR thresholds was highest at 2-4 kHz (r = 0.690). The resultant multiple regression model to predict actual PTA was: PTA = 3.274 + 0.774 (SRT) + 0.245 (ABR).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we delineated the relationship between the PTA, SRT and ABR threshold, and established an equation to predict the actual PTA from the SRT and ABR threshold in difficult-to-test patients, allowing accurate assessment of the hearing threshold in geriatric populations.
Chien
Chih-Hung
CH
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. md.chien@msa.hinet.net
Tu
Tzong-Yang
TY
Shiao
An-Suey
AS
Chien
Shu-Feng
SF
Wang
Yi-Fen
YF
Li
Angela Chung-I
AC
Yang
Mei-Jan
MJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*