[Analysis of characteristics and influencing factors of hearing loss in the older adults].

Objective

To investigate the clinical characteristics of hearing loss in the older people and analyze potential influencing factors associated with its occurrence.

Methods

Subjects aged over 60 were recruited from a community in Beijing from 2020 to 2025. Self-perceived hearing status was recorded. After excluding conductive and mixed hearing loss based on pure-tone audiometry and acoustic immittance testing, the included participants were categorized into three groups: normal hearing group, high-frequency hearing loss group, and all-frequency hearing loss group. Comparisons were made regarding basic information, lifestyle, chronic disease history, otological symptoms, cognitive function, and emotional state. Weighted stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to identify potential factors associated with the occurrence of high-frequency and all-frequency hearing loss.

Results

① A total of 910 participants were recruited, with 10.3%（94 cases） having normal hearing and 89.7%（816 cases） having hearing loss. Among those with hearing loss, 12.7%（104/816） had high-frequency hearing loss, while 87.3%（712/816） had all-frequency hearing loss. Compared to those with all-frequency hearing loss, subjects with high-frequency hearing loss reported a lower rate（19.2%） of self-perceived hearing loss. ② Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, smoking, occupational noise exposure, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, tinnitus, cognitive decline, and anxiety. ③ Weighted stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the occurrence of high-frequency hearing loss was associated with smoking, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and anxiety, while all-frequency hearing loss was associated with age, smoking, diabetes, tinnitus, cognitive decline, and anxiety.

Conclusion

The incidence of hearing loss is high among the older people, with some cases affecting only high frequencies and exhibiting a low self-detection rate. The occurrence of hearing loss in the older adults may be related to smoking, diabetes, tinnitus, cognitive decline, and anxiety. Additionally, clinicians should be vigilant about high-frequency hearing in older individuals with chronic kidney disease and enhance clinical attention.