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Asymmetric sensorineural hearing thresholds in the non-noise-exposed UK population

Asymmetric sensorineural hearing thresholds in the non-noise-exposed UK population
Asymmetric sensorineural hearing thresholds in the non-noise-exposed UK population
Objectives: To estimate the distribution of inter-aural sensorineural hearing threshold level differences in the non-noise-exposed adult population of the UK.

Setting: A two-stage population study carried out in 1979–1986, initially by postal questionnaire, followed up in a proportion of participants by clinical and audiological examination.

Participants: Volunteers (n = 48 313) initially selected at random from the electoral registers of four cities, subsequently selected at random from questionnaire respondents stratified by answers to questions about hearing.

Main outcomes measure: Inter-aural hearing threshold level differences measured audiometrically, as a function of age and gender.

Results: Tables of inter-aural threshold level differences provided as a resource with potential medicolegal, clinical and research applications. Based on the average of the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz, ? 1% of the general UK population aged 18–80 years have an asymmetry of 15 dB or more. The prevalence is greater in older than in younger people.

Conclusions: Inter-aural threshold differences greater than attributable to measurement error are not uncommon in the adult population, even after screening for conductive hearing loss and substantial noise exposure. They are typically of unknown origin.
1749-4486
316-321
Lutman, M.E.
Coles, R.R.A.
05f7e0f1-d4ec-4cb3-8057-41c451e1e5eb
Lutman, M.E.
Coles, R.R.A.
05f7e0f1-d4ec-4cb3-8057-41c451e1e5eb

Lutman, M.E. and Coles, R.R.A. (2009) Asymmetric sensorineural hearing thresholds in the non-noise-exposed UK population. Clinical Otolaryngology, 34 (4), 316-321. (doi:10.1111/j.1749-4486.2009.01967.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the distribution of inter-aural sensorineural hearing threshold level differences in the non-noise-exposed adult population of the UK.

Setting: A two-stage population study carried out in 1979–1986, initially by postal questionnaire, followed up in a proportion of participants by clinical and audiological examination.

Participants: Volunteers (n = 48 313) initially selected at random from the electoral registers of four cities, subsequently selected at random from questionnaire respondents stratified by answers to questions about hearing.

Main outcomes measure: Inter-aural hearing threshold level differences measured audiometrically, as a function of age and gender.

Results: Tables of inter-aural threshold level differences provided as a resource with potential medicolegal, clinical and research applications. Based on the average of the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz, ? 1% of the general UK population aged 18–80 years have an asymmetry of 15 dB or more. The prevalence is greater in older than in younger people.

Conclusions: Inter-aural threshold differences greater than attributable to measurement error are not uncommon in the adult population, even after screening for conductive hearing loss and substantial noise exposure. They are typically of unknown origin.

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Published date: August 2009
Organisations: Human Sciences Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 67254
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/67254
ISSN: 1749-4486
PURE UUID: cf417319-23fb-4b97-b681-520017bc2a3b

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Date deposited: 12 Aug 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 18:47

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Contributors

Author: M.E. Lutman
Author: R.R.A. Coles

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