TY - JOUR
T1 - Audiologic assessment in adults with down syndrome
AU - Picciotti, Pasqualina Maria
AU - Carfi', Angelo
AU - Anzivino, Roberta
AU - Paludetti, Gaetano
AU - Conti, Guido
AU - Brandi, Vincenzo
AU - Bernabei, Roberto
AU - Onder, Graziano
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Increased life expectancy in persons with Down syndrome (DS) is associated with premature age-related changes. The aim of this study was to assess auditory function in adults with DS and to evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss in this population. Audiometric tests were performed in 72 adults with DS (mean age 37.3±10.1 years, 51.4% females). Air conduction pure tone average (PTA) thresholds at frequencies 0.5-1-2-4 kHz were calculated to assess hearing function. Hearing loss was present if the PTA threshold was > 20 dB hearing level. Higher frequencies of 4 and 8 kHz were also assessed. Hearing loss was shown in 47 (65.3%) participants. The prevalence of hearing loss increased with age, ranging from 42.86% in the 20-29 years group to 90.91% in the 50-59 years group. High frequencies (4 and 8 kHz) were more often impaired than other frequencies used to measure PTA. Thus, the study concluded hearing loss is common in adults with DS and shows a pattern compatible with precocious aging of the hearing system. Auditory evaluation is strongly recommended in adults with DS.
AB - Increased life expectancy in persons with Down syndrome (DS) is associated with premature age-related changes. The aim of this study was to assess auditory function in adults with DS and to evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss in this population. Audiometric tests were performed in 72 adults with DS (mean age 37.3±10.1 years, 51.4% females). Air conduction pure tone average (PTA) thresholds at frequencies 0.5-1-2-4 kHz were calculated to assess hearing function. Hearing loss was present if the PTA threshold was > 20 dB hearing level. Higher frequencies of 4 and 8 kHz were also assessed. Hearing loss was shown in 47 (65.3%) participants. The prevalence of hearing loss increased with age, ranging from 42.86% in the 20-29 years group to 90.91% in the 50-59 years group. High frequencies (4 and 8 kHz) were more often impaired than other frequencies used to measure PTA. Thus, the study concluded hearing loss is common in adults with DS and shows a pattern compatible with precocious aging of the hearing system. Auditory evaluation is strongly recommended in adults with DS.
KW - Aging
KW - Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
KW - Developmental and Educational Psychology
KW - Down syndrome
KW - Hearing
KW - Neurology (clinical)
KW - Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
KW - Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
KW - Presbycusis
KW - Psychiatry and Mental Health
KW - Aging
KW - Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
KW - Developmental and Educational Psychology
KW - Down syndrome
KW - Hearing
KW - Neurology (clinical)
KW - Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
KW - Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
KW - Presbycusis
KW - Psychiatry and Mental Health
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/113994
UR - http://www.aaiddjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1352/1944-7558-122.4.333
U2 - 10.1352/1944-7558-122.4.333
DO - 10.1352/1944-7558-122.4.333
M3 - Article
SN - 1944-7515
VL - 122
SP - 333
EP - 341
JO - American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
JF - American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
ER -
