U.S. Army Health Clinic, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857, USA.
Am Fam Physician. 2013 Jan 1;87(1):41-7.
The prevalence of hearing loss varies with age, affecting at least 25 percent of patients older than 50 years and more than 50 percent of those older than 80 years. Adolescents and young adults represent groups in which the prevalence of hearing loss is increasing and may therefore benefit from screening. If offered, screening can be performed periodically by asking the patient or family if there are perceived hearing problems, or by using clinical office tests such as whispered voice, finger rub, or audiometry. Audiometry in the family medicine clinic setting is a relatively simple procedure that can be interpreted by a trained health care professional. Pure-tone testing presents tones across the speech spectrum (500 to 4,000 Hz) to determine if the patient's hearing levels fall within normal limits. A quiet testing environment, calibrated audiometric equipment, and appropriately trained personnel are required for in-office testing. Pure-tone audiometry may help physicians appropriately refer patients to an audiologist or otolaryngologist. Unilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss can be symptomatic of a central nervous system lesion and requires additional evaluation.
听力损失的患病率随年龄而变化，至少影响 50 岁以上患者的 25%，超过 80 岁以上患者的 50%。青少年和年轻成年人是听力损失患病率增加的群体，因此可能受益于筛查。如果提供筛查，可以通过询问患者或家属是否存在听力问题，或者通过使用临床办公室测试（如 whispered voice、finger rub 或 audiometry）定期进行。在家庭医学诊所进行听力测试是一项相对简单的程序，可以由经过培训的医疗保健专业人员进行解释。纯音测试通过呈现跨越语音频谱（500 至 4000 Hz）的音调来确定患者的听力水平是否在正常范围内。进行办公室测试需要安静的测试环境、校准的听力计设备和经过适当培训的人员。纯音听力测试可以帮助医生为患者适当转诊给听力学家或耳鼻喉科医生。单侧或不对称性听力损失可能是中枢神经系统病变的症状，需要进一步评估。
