Over the past 19 years, more than 100,000 people have had their hearing screened on two sound proof audiological mobile units of the League for the Hard of Hearing, free of charge. Hearing screenings are short tests in which a person’s hearing is assessed. If an individual can detect three speech frequencies (1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz) at a normal level (20 dB), s/he is considered to have passed the screening. People who do not detect all three pitches are considered to have failed, and are referred for a complete hearing evaluation. (Well over 80% of people who fail screenings have a permanent hearing loss.) These mobile units park in various locations around New York City, near popular gathering places such as shopping malls, parks, etc. The percent of people who failed the screenings was plotted by year, separately for each age and gender group. Results demonstrate a significant increase in failure rate for 60-89 year olds. Among males and females 80-89, failure rate over the 19 years has increased by 40% and 60%, respectively; among 70-79 year old males and females, failure rate has increased by 40% and 50%, respectively; and among 60-69 males and females, failure rate has increased by 15% and 25%, respectively. This trend seems contrary to the general trend that older people are living longer and healthier lives. We hypothesize that the increase in the failure rate of hearing screenings among older adults is due, in part, to increased environmental noise pollution.
Keywords: Aging, Hearing Protection
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: League for the Hard of Hearing
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.