Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Experimental Audiology, University hospital rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Department of Neurology, University hospital rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
J Neurosci Res. 2022 Sep;100(9):1791-1811. doi: 10.1002/jnr.25068. Epub 2022 May 22.
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL, formerly presbycusis) is due to a variety of lifetime damages to the auditory system and is characterized by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, impaired speech understanding in noise and central sound processing deficits. Despite its commonness, the pathogenesis has not been completely clarified yet; especially the existence of an independent central ARHL component still remains controversial. We present the results of a cross-sectional topodiagnostic test battery study which aimed at separating aging- and hearing loss-related effects on all parts of the auditory system by current test procedures. Three groups of 30 participants each underwent extensive topodiagnostic test procedures (otoscopy, tympanometry, questionnaires, pure-tone audiometry, DPOAE threshold measurements, auditory brainstem response, central auditory discrimination tests, and speech-in-noise test). By comparing the results of the normally hearing young (18-26 years) and healthy control group, the normally hearing elderly group (60-80 years) and the hearing-impaired elderly group (60-80 years), we deduced aging and hearing loss-related effects on auditory performance. All measurements indicated a significant deterioration of auditory performance in the elderly, partly associated with aging and partly with age-related hearing loss. Our study thereby contributes to a multifocal concept of ARHL. All parts of the auditory system are impaired by aging, age-related hearing loss, or a combination of both. Further evidence for an independent central ARHL component, not attributable to peripheral hearing loss, is provided by the results of the central auditory discrimination test.
年龄相关性听力损失（ARHL，以前称为老年性聋）是由于一生中各种听觉系统损伤引起的，其特征为双侧感音神经性听力损失、噪声下言语理解能力受损和中枢声音处理缺陷。尽管它很常见，但发病机制尚未完全阐明；特别是独立的中枢 ARHL 成分的存在仍然存在争议。我们介绍了一项横断面拓扑诊断测试电池研究的结果，该研究旨在通过当前的测试程序分离与年龄和听力损失相关的听觉系统各部分的影响。三组各有 30 名参与者接受了广泛的拓扑诊断测试程序（耳镜检查、鼓室图、问卷、纯音听力测试、DPOAE 阈值测量、听觉脑干反应、中枢听觉辨别测试和噪声下言语测试）。通过比较正常听力的年轻人（18-26 岁）和健康对照组、正常听力的老年人组（60-80 岁）和听力受损的老年人组（60-80 岁）的结果，我们推断出听觉表现与年龄和听力损失相关的影响。所有测量结果均表明老年人的听觉表现明显恶化，部分与年龄有关，部分与年龄相关性听力损失有关。我们的研究为此提供了一个多焦点 ARHL 概念。听觉系统的所有部分都受到衰老、与年龄相关的听力损失或两者的共同影响而受损。中枢听觉辨别测试的结果进一步提供了一个独立的中枢 ARHL 成分的证据，这不能归因于外周听力损失。
