Table 1.
Overview of the selected articles on hearing loss and high-frequency audiometry in populations not exposed to workplace noise.
| Author, Year | Number of Respondents and Study Design |
Age Range (Years) and Groups |
City, Country | Audiometry and Frequency Range (kHz) |
Audiometer Type | Headphones | Objective | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodríguez Valiente et al., 2014 [17] |
645 (321 men and 324 women). No workplace noise exposure. Prospective study. |
5–90 Age groups: 5–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–90. Same number in each group. Ears not distinguished. Divided by gender. |
Madrid, Spain | CA 0.125–8 HFA 8–20 |
Madsen Orbiter 922, version 2, Madsen Electronics |
CA: Telephonic TDH-39P HFA: Sennheiser 200 |
Determine threshold values over the 0.125–20 kHz range in healthy, professional, unexposed people; try to set new standards. |
In the group of people aged 20–69 years, the hearing threshold values were lower in women than in men, especially at 12.5 and 16 kHz. |
| Oppitz et al., 2017 [21] |
60 (11 men and 49 women). No workplace noise exposure. Cross-sectional, prospective study. |
18–58 Age groups: 18–30, 31–58. Group 1: 49 people. Group 2: 11 people. Left and right ears. Not divided by gender. |
Santa Marie, Brazil |
CA 0.250–8 HFA 9–18 |
Interacoustics AS10HF | CA: Telephonics TDH-39P HFA: KOSS R/80 |
Evaluate high-frequency hearing thresholds and try to compare differences between the ears; verify correlation between hearing quality and aging. | There was a progressive increase in hearing thresholds above 14 kHz. The increased hearing thresholds were found in both ears and were proportional to the rising frequency and age. |
| Barbosa de Sá et al., 2007 [18] |
51 (19 men and 32 women). No workplace noise exposure. Cross-sectional, prospective study. |
18–29 1 age group. Left and right ears. Divided by gender. |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | CA 0.250–8 HFA 8–18 |
Amplaid 460 | CA: Telephonics 236D 100-1 HFA: Sennheiser HD 520 II |
Analyze results related to high-frequency hearing thresholds in individuals aged 18–29 years without otological problems. | There were no significant differences in hearing thresholds between men and women aged 18–29 years. Significant differences in hearing thresholds between the left and right ears were found only at 11–12 kHz. Over 16 kHz, hearing thresholds increased bilaterally. |
| Kumar et al., 2016 [19] | 100 30 (10 men and 20 women), 70 people using PLDs (22 men and 48 women). Study design unknown. |
15–30 1 age group. Ears not distinguished. Not divided by gender. |
New Delhi, India |
CA 0.125–8 HFA 9–20 |
Labat Audiolab Audiometer |
CA/HFA: Sennheiser HDA 300 |
Examine changes in HFA hearing thresholds in PLD users and compare them with an unexposed group. | Using a PLD for more than 5 years at a high volume led to significantly increased hearing thresholds at 3, 10 and 13 kHz. |
| Le Prell et al., 2013 [20] |
87 (34 men and 53 women) using PLDs. Retrospective analysis. |
18–31 1 age group. Left and right ears. Divided by gender. |
Florida, USA | CA 0.250–8 HFA 10–16 |
Grason-Stadler model 61 (GSI 61) |
CA: EAR 3A HFA: Sennheiser HDA200 |
Determine whether HFA thresholds for university students differ depending on exposure to recreational noise. | Subjects who used a PLD over the long term (5 years or more) showed statistically significant threshold differences (3–6 dB higher) at the highest frequencies tested (10–16 kHz). |
HFA = high-frequency audiometry; CA = conventional pure tone audiometry; and PLDs = personal listening devices.