[Assessment of hearing function within the sensorial domain of intrinsic capacity in the age of 60-74 years.]

Abstract

The auditory function is one of the components of an eldery person's intrinsic capacity - a set of functional abilities that determine healthy aging. The aim of the study was to assess hearing function as a component of the sensory domain of intrinsic capacity and to determine reference ranges of otological parameters for the age of 60-74 years. In 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Arkhangelsk using a random population sample (n=605). The examination included an assessment of hearing acuity through whisper speech (WS) perception, otoscopy, collection of data on otological history and socio-economic characteristics of the participants. Reference ranges of hearing acuity of the better hearing ear for men and women aged 60-74 years were determined based on the values of the 5th-50th percentiles (P5-P50) of the WS perception distance. In the age of 60-69 years, women had higher P5 and P25 values compared to men, which were leveled off in the 70-74 years age group. Participants aged 70-74 year had reduced P5-P25 values compared to the 60-69 years group. A five-point scale for assessing hearing function in the elderly was proposed, where 1 point (WS perception with the better hearing ear at ≤1 m; ≤P5 for ages 60-74) indicates significant hearing loss, and 5 indicates absolutely normal hearing (WS perception at 6 meters with each ear). The scale can be used to assess hearing function as a part of the complex assessment of intrinsic capacity of an elderly person.