PROFILE OF PURE TONE AUDIOGRAM IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION COMPLAINING OF HEARING LOSS WITH INTACT DRUM

INTRODUCTION: 360 million people have disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss can be of diverse etiologies including congenital, hereditary, infectious, inflammatory, metabolic or traumatic. Hearing loss is psychological and social problem for elderly people compromising the quality of life because it impairs the person’s capacity to effectively engage in communication leading to isolation and reduced socialization. Pure tone audiogram can be used for screening of individuals hard of hearing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 300 patients visiting the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, P. D. U. Medical College, Rajkot presenting with hearing loss having intact drum. Audiograms were evaluated for degree, type and pattern of hearing loss. RESULTS: This study includes 188(62.67%) males and 112(37.33%) females. The results from the audiological evaluations as to the type of hearing loss were: Auditory thresholds within normal limits in 46(7.67%); sensorineural hearing loss in 277(46.17%); mixed hearing loss in 225(37.5%) and conductive hearing loss in 52(8.67%). The level varied between normal to profound. 17(5.67%) had normal, 58(19.33%) had mild, 60(20%) had moderate, 89(29.67%) had moderate-severe, 64 (21.33%) had severe and 12(4%) had profound hearing loss. 34(11.33%) of the people had unilateral hearing loss and 266(88.67%) had bilateral hearing loss. Audiogram curve pattern seen was as: 179(29.83%) flat, 135(22.5%) slow descending, 134(22.33%) steep descending and 152(25.33%) mix pattern curves. CONCLUSIONS: We found a greater prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss and the degree of the hearing loss varying from mild to profound. Majority of patients are male. Flat audiological curve is the most common audiological curve pattern. This evaluation will help in identifying and grading patients with hearing loss and rehabilitating them properly reducing stress and improving life.