Characteristics of hearing loss in elderly outpatients over 60 years of age: an annual cross-sectional study

The prevention and treatment of presbycusis becomes a serious health challenge and socio-economic problem.We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the audiometry results of all elderly patients who visited our department throughout the year of 2018.A total of 5520 people aged 60 and over were included and divided into three groups: young-old group (60-74 years old), old-old group (75-89 years old), and longevous group (over 90 years old). Pure-tone audiometry results of all patients were analyzed.Among the 5520 patients, there were 4445 cases in the young-old group, 1029 cases in the old-old group, and 46 cases in the longevous group, accounting for 80.53, 18.64, and 0.83%, respectively. In the young-old group, normal hearing and mild-moderate hearing loss were the most common, while moderate and severe hearing loss were more common among the old-old group and the longevous group. The hearing curve showed typical age-related hearing loss with a drop at high frequencies.With an increase in age, patients tend to suffer from more serious hearing disorders. Presbycusis was associated with specific frequency and age characteristics. Understanding these characteristics is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of age-related hearing loss.