Objective: The aim of the present study was to provide thresholds data as a function of age for an otologically normal population in Spain, compared to the current ISO 7029 (2000) standard.
Design: A prospective study in an otologically screened population.
Study sample: Data was collected from 1175 otologically-normal persons aged between 5 and 90 years. Inclusion criteria involved those listed in ISO 389-1 (1998) and the 8253-1 (2010). Suitability for inclusion was evaluated through interview, based on a questionnaire, and physical examination.
Results: The hearing thresholds decreased slightly from 125 to 2000 Hz. From 2000 Hz onwards the thresholds increased; this increase being more pronounced with increasing frequency and age. No statistically significant sex differences were found. The hearing threshold levels in the present study were higher (poorer) than the ones provided by ISO 7029 (2000).
Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that the thresholds listed in ISO 7029 (2000) may be too restrictive, and could be useful in formulating the ISO 7029 update.
Keywords: ISO 389; ISO 7029; Pure-tone audiometry; aging; hearing threshold levels; presbycusis; sensorineural hearing loss.