Rate of hearing loss increases significantly after 90, hearing aids remain underused

The rate of hearing loss increased significantly in adults aged 90 years, according to data published in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery.

Kapil Wattamwar, BS, from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and colleagues also found that more than 40% of patients were not using hearing aids despite universal hearing loss.

"Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, affects approximately two-thirds of adults older than 70 years and four-fifths of adults older than 85," the researchers noted. "It is a major public health concern that is associated with numerous deleterious effects."

Wattamwar and colleagues noted that age-related hearing loss can lead to increased social isolation, cognitive impairment and overall mortality, as well as decreased ability to perform activities of daily living.

"Currently, there is a global demographic change that has resulted in an increase in the number of older adults," they wrote. "In the United States, the population of individuals older than 80 years is expected to double in the next 40 years. To better serve this growing population, it is important to consider persons 60 years and older as a continuum of age rather than a single group. The majority of research in [age-related hearing loss], however, groups participants older than 70 years into a single category, thus obscuring changes in the severity of hearing loss as individuals live to 80 years or older."

The researchers conducted a retrospective review of 647 patients who had audiometric evaluations to characterize hearing loss in older adults. The patients were all aged older than 80 years and were compared in four age brackets: 80 to 84 years, 85 to 89 years, 90 to 94 years and 95 years and older.

Results showed that, for all participants, hearing changes were higher during patients' 10th decade of life compared with their 9th decade of life.

In addition, the rate of low-frequency hearing loss was faster during the 10th decade in various frequencies: 3.2 dB hearing level each year at 1 kHz; 3.8 dB hearing level each year at 0.5 kHz; and 3.8 dB hearing level each year at 0.25 kHz.

Researchers reported that 382 patients (59%) used hearing aids despite a widespread presence of hearing loss.

"Hearing is rapidly lost in patients older than 80 years," Wattamwar and colleagues wrote. "The rate of low-frequency hearing loss increases during the patient's 10th decade. The difference in auditory function between sexes is minimal in the older old."

They concluded: "Hearing aids are underused in this population despite a universal potential benefit that increases with age. To improve use, hearing aids should be thought of as a lifestyle modification. More attention should be on counseling patients on accepting hearing aids in a longitudinal primary care setting, especially in the population living to 80 years or older." – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes

Disclosure: One researcher reported serving as an advisory board member for Mel El Corp and another reported serving on the medical advisory board for and receiving personal fees from Advanced Bionics Corp. No other authors reported any relevant financial disclosures.