Background

Presbyacusis is a physiological hearing defect progressing with age, caused by degenerative changes in the inner ear. Chronic internal diseases can change the development of age-related hearing loss.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of chronic internal diseases (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia) on the process of hearing loss in people over 50 years of age.

Material and methods

215 audiological patients with hearing loss and internal disease were compared with 80 patients with physiological hearing loss (presbyacusis). We analysed the results of hearing thresholds in the pure tone audiometry. The results were analysed in four age groups: 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and 80+.

Results

The relation between internal chronic diseases, different age groups and HL for mean values of 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz and 8 kHz frequencies showed that the greatest progression of hearing loss was caused by hypertension and diabetes. The most significant differences were found in the 50 to 59 age groups. Additional significant differences were observed in the 60–69 age range for hyperlipidaemia patients, but the significance level was smaller.

Conclusions

Each of the chronic internal diseases is distinguished by a progression of hearing loss in patients’ lives after 50 years of age. Diseases such as hypertension or diabetes or hyperlipidaemia cause a considerably faster progression of hearing loss in the earlier period of life of elderly patients.