PURPOSE: To identify age-related changes in the auditory and vestibular systems in normal older subjects followed serially over time. METHODS: Pure tone hearing levels, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination scores, and vestibulo-ocular responses were measured in 57 normal older subjects (mean age, 82) on 5 yearly examinations. RESULTS: There was a significant (P < .001) increase in pure tone threshold averages (about 1 dB per year) and speech reception threshold averages (about 2 dB per year), and a significant (P < .001) decrease in discrimination scores (about 2% per year) over the 5 years of follow-up. There was a significant (P < .05) amplitude-dependent decrease in gain and increase in phase lead of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and a significant (P < .01) decrease in gain of visual-vestibular responses at low frequency sinusoidal stimulation over the 5 examinations. Years 1 to 5 differences in individual subjects were significantly (P < .01) correlated across auditory and vestibular tests, but not between auditory and vestibular tests (P > .01). CONCLUSION: This is the first longitudinal study to show age-related decreases in auditory and vestibular responses in normal older subjects. Because the age-related changes in the auditory system were not correlated with age-related changes in the vestibular system, the 2 systems may age at different rates in the same individual. These changes likely result from degeneration in both peripheral and central structures, although age-related changes in the central nervous system probably are more important from a functional point of view.
PURPOSE: To identify age-related changes in the auditory and vestibular systems in normal older subjects followed serially over time. METHODS: Pure tone hearing levels, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination scores, and vestibulo-ocular responses were measured in 57 normal older subjects (mean age, 82) on 5 yearly examinations. RESULTS: There was a significant (P < .001) increase in pure tone threshold averages (about 1 dB per year) and speech reception threshold averages (about 2 dB per year), and a significant (P < .001) decrease in discrimination scores (about 2% per year) over the 5 years of follow-up. There was a significant (P < .05) amplitude-dependent decrease in gain and increase in phase lead of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and a significant (P < .01) decrease in gain of visual-vestibular responses at low frequency sinusoidal stimulation over the 5 examinations. Years 1 to 5 differences in individual subjects were significantly (P < .01) correlated across auditory and vestibular tests, but not between auditory and vestibular tests (P > .01). CONCLUSION: This is the first longitudinal study to show age-related decreases in auditory and vestibular responses in normal older subjects. Because the age-related changes in the auditory system were not correlated with age-related changes in the vestibular system, the 2 systems may age at different rates in the same individual. These changes likely result from degeneration in both peripheral and central structures, although age-related changes in the central nervous system probably are more important from a functional point of view.
Authors: Carol Li; Andrew J Layman; Robert Geary; Eric Anson; John P Carey; Luigi Ferrucci; Yuri Agrawal Journal: Otol Neurotol Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.311
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Authors: Anne Viljanen; Jaakko Kaprio; Ilmari Pyykkö; Martti Sorri; Satu Pajala; Markku Kauppinen; Markku Koskenvuo; Taina Rantanen Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2009-01-31 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Bruce E Mock; Sarath Vijayakumar; Jessica Pierce; Timothy A Jones; Sherri M Jones Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2016-03-26 Impact factor: 4.673