Audiometric Characteristics of Children and Adults Andrea Pittman, Ph.D. Patricia Stelmachowicz, Ph.D. Boys Town National Research Hospital Funded by a grant from NIH
Possible Adult-Child Differences Audiometric Configurations Right-Left Ear Asymmetry of Hearing Loss Progression of Hearing Loss There are many aspects of hearing loss that must be considered before selecting a hearing instrument for a patient. The three most basic considerations are: 1 – the configuration and degree of hearing loss 2 – the symmetry of loss between ears 3 – the possible progression of loss Given that hearing loss in children and adults often arises from different etiologies, these aspects may differ for these two population. To date there are no studies that compare these characteristics in children and adults…
Methods Groups Criteria 248 audiograms from 60- and 61-year-old adults 227 audiograms from 6-year-old children Criteria Right ear thresholds at octave test frequencies 250-8 kHz At least one threshold > 30 dB Confirmed right ear sensorinueral hearing loss by bone conduction audiometry Air-bone gaps < 10 dB.
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Audiograms were grouped by configuration into 6 categories.
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Sloping – thresholds increased with increasing frequency
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Rising – threshold decreased with increasing frequency
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Flat – threshold varied no more than 15 dB across all frequencies (may be 20, I have to check)
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other U-shaped, one or more thresholds was poorer than thresholds at 250 and 8k by at least 10 dB
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Using this definition, noise-notched losses were included in this category.
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Tent Shaped – One or more thresholds was better than 250 and 8k
Audiogram Classification Sloping Rising Flat U-Shaped Noise Notched Tent-Shaped Other Other – anything that didn’t fit neatly into the other 5 categories
Results: Configurations Results – 50% of the adult losses and just over 30% of the children’s losses were sloping configurations. There were no rising adult audiograms The children displayed more flat and other losses. Both groups contained similar percentages of U- and tent-shaped losses
Results: Average Audiograms Adults Children The average configuration of all losses for each group (SDs to be added when I figure out how to do it.)
Results: Sloping Adults Children Average configuration of sloping losses
Results: Sloping Adults Children The sloping losses were subcategorized in two way. The light blue lines represent losses where the threshold at 250 Hz was <25 dB and
Results: Sloping Adults Children
Results: Flat Adults Children
Results: U-Shaped Adults Children
Results: U-Shaped Adults Children
Results: Tent-Shaped Adults Children
Results: Tent-Shaped Adults Children
Results: Other Adults Children
Results: Other Adults Children
Results: Other Adults Children
Results: Other Adults Children
Results: Other Adults Children
Asymmetry Left Ear Thresholds 248 60- and 61-year-old adults 227 6-year-old children
Results: Asymmetry
Results: Asymmetry @ 250 Hz Adults Children
Results: Asymmetry @ 500 Hz Adults Children
Results: Asymmetry @ 1k Hz Adults Children
Results: Asymmetry @ 2k Hz Adults Children
Results: Asymmetry @ 4k Hz Adults Children
Results: Asymmetry @ 8k Hz Adults Children