Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway; Paediatric Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø-Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 6050 Langnes, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.
Ear-Nose-Throat Unit, Ishavsklinikken, Tromsø, Sjøgata 31-33, 9008, Tromsø, Norway.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 May;144:110686. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110686. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
Extended high frequency (EHF) audiometry is the recommended method for monitoring oxotoxic hearing loss in children. This study aims to provide high quality reference audiological data for the EHF range in healthy children.
Participants were 126 healthy schoolchildren between 6 and 14 years of age. All participants were term born with normal birthweight, had not suffered severe neonatal illness and had no history of middle ear disease.
The averaged mean (SD) hearing threshold for the EHF 9, 10, 11.2, 12.5, 14 and 16 kHz was -0.4 (6.0) dB HL. The lowest mean hearing thresholds were observed at 14 kHz with -4.2 (8.7) dB and at 16 kHz with -6.4 (12.1) dB HL. We found significantly lower thresholds at 16 kHz for children aged 6-9 years (-8.7 dB HL) compared to age 10-14 years (-3.9 db HL), p 0.042. For both age groups the inter-subject variability increased in the highest frequencies. We found no significant differences in mean hearing thresholds between right and left ears at any frequency, and no gender differences in the EHF range.
Our findings support that decreased hearing sensitivity in the EHF's may start around or even before the age of 10 years. In order to use EHF audiometry for ototoxic monitoring in children, we suggest to establish an international reference standard for hearing levels in children under the age of 18. Specific references for different age groups are needed as hearing in the EHF range appears to gradually deteriorate from an early age.
NCT03253614.
扩展高频（EHF）听力测试是监测儿童耳毒性听力损失的推荐方法。本研究旨在为健康儿童的 EHF 频段提供高质量的参考听力学数据。
参与者为 126 名 6 至 14 岁的健康在校儿童。所有参与者均足月出生，体重正常，无严重新生儿疾病史，无中耳疾病史。
EHF 9、10、11.2、12.5、14 和 16 kHz 的平均平均（SD）听力阈值为-0.4（6.0）dB HL。最低平均听力阈值出现在 14 kHz，为-4.2（8.7）dB，在 16 kHz 为-6.4（12.1）dB HL。我们发现，6-9 岁儿童在 16 kHz 的阈值明显低于 10-14 岁儿童（-8.7 dB HL），p 0.042。对于两个年龄组，在最高频率时，个体间的可变性增加。我们发现，在任何频率下，左右耳的平均听力阈值均无显著差异，EHF 范围内也无性别差异。
我们的研究结果表明，EHF 听力敏感度的降低可能在 10 岁左右或更早开始。为了在儿童中使用 EHF 听力测试进行耳毒性监测，我们建议为 18 岁以下儿童建立 EHF 听力水平的国际参考标准。由于 EHF 范围内的听力似乎会随着年龄的增长而逐渐恶化，因此需要针对不同年龄组的特定参考值。
NCT03253614。
