Pure Tone Audiometry Threshold Changes for 10 Years in the Same Individuals of General Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study

The objectives of this study were to measure the changes in hearing thresholds in the same individuals during a period of 10 years and suggest a clinical reference for the threshold changes by aging. In this retrospective cohort study, we used regular health checkup data including 2 pure tone audiometry results with a 10-year interval in the same individuals from 1288 subjects. The subjects’ data including demographics, smoking habits, and the diagnosis of chronic diseases were used. Age, male gender, smoking, and osteoporosis were identified as factors affecting age-related hearing loss (ARHL). The sole effect of aging on ARHL for 10 years according to age groups and genders was as follows: a loss of 1.4 dB in 20s, 4.0 dB in 30s, 5.0 dB in 40s, 8.2 dB in 50s, and 11.2 dB in 60s of males compared to a loss of 2.3 dB in 20s, 2.9 dB in 30s, 5.1 dB in 40s, 6.5 dB in 50s, and 9.4 dB in 60s of females. We could demonstrate the actual effect of aging on ARHL, and it can be used as a clinical reference. Hearing ability decreases more in males than females but seems to decrease exponentially with age in both males and females