Imagine a bustling subway station with different train lines represented by varying patterns on the subway map. In a similar way, this study examined the diverse patterns of hearing loss in elderly patients experiencing vertigo and dizziness. By retrospectively analyzing the hearing test results of over 9,000 patients, researchers identified seven distinct subtypes of audiograms, each with its own unique characteristics. They also found that the majority of these patients had mild to moderate hearing loss, often accompanied by symptoms of vertigo. Among the most common underlying causes of vertigo in this population were Meniere’s disease, benign recurrent vertigo, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Interestingly, female patients tended to have better hearing thresholds than males. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored strategies for managing hearing loss in elderly individuals with vertigo and dizziness. If you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating research and its implications, hop on over to the full article!

BackgroundVertigo and hearing loss are both prevalent in the elderly. This study retrospectively analyzed hearing test results from elderly patients experiencing vertigo and dizziness at ENT outpatient over a 10-year period, in order to study the patterns of hearing loss in this patient population.MethodsNine thousand three hundred eighty four patients over 50 years old underwent retrospective collection and screening of outpatient diagnosis, pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measurement (tympanogram) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. The patient’s audiograms are divided into 7 subtypes according to a set of fixed criteria. Meanwhile, K-Means clustering analysis method was used to classify the audiogram.ResultsThe Jerger classification of tympanogram in elderly patients with vertigo and dizziness showed the majority falling under type A. The leading audiogram shapes were flat (27.81% in right ear and 26.89% in left ear), high-frequency gently sloping (25.97% in right ear and 27.34% in left ear), and high-frequency steeply sloping (21.60% in right ear and 22.53% in left ear). Meniere’s disease (MD; 30.87%), benign recurrent vertigo (BRV; 19.07%), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV; 15.66%) were the most common etiologies in elderly vestibular diseases. We observed statistically significant differences in hearing thresholds among these vestibular diseases (P < 0.001). K-Means clustering analysis suggested that the optimal number of clusters was three, with sample sizes for the three clusters being 2,747, 2,413, and 4,139, respectively. The ANOVA statistical results of each characteristic value showed P < 0.001.ConclusionThe elderly patients often have mild to moderate hearing loss as a concomitant symptom with vertigo. Female patients have better hearing thresholds than males. The dominant audiometric shapes in this patient population were flat, high-frequency gently sloping, and high-frequency steeply sloping according to a set of fixed criteria. This study highlights the need for tailored strategies in managing hearing loss in elderly patients with vertigo and dizziness.

Read Full Article (External Site)