title: Hearing threshold levels for an otologically screened population in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to provide thresholds data as a function of age for an otologically normal population in Spain, compared to the current ISO 7029 (2000) standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study in an otologically screened population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected from 1175 otologically-normal persons aged between 5 and 90 years. Inclusion criteria involved those listed in ISO 389-1 (1998) and the 8253-1 (2010). Suitability for inclusion was evaluated through interview, based on a questionnaire, and physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hearing thresholds decreased slightly from 125 to 2000 Hz. From 2000 Hz onwards the thresholds increased; this increase being more pronounced with increasing frequency and age. No statistically significant sex differences were found. The hearing threshold levels in the present study were higher (poorer) than the ones provided by ISO 7029 (2000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study suggest that the thresholds listed in ISO 7029 (2000) may be too restrictive, and could be useful in formulating the ISO 7029 update.
authors.affiliation: Ear Research Group, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Valiente
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roldán Fidalgo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: García Berrocal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez Camacho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012015:Reference Standards; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ISO 389; ISO 7029; Pure-tone audiometry; aging; hearing threshold levels; presbycusis; sensorineural hearing loss