Overview

This document is based on a careful analysis of data from the literature on the change in hearing as a function of age for populations of otologically normal individuals as defined here. A distinction is made between men and women, as the difference has been found to be significant for groups of older people. The data have been derived from studies in which pure tones were transmitted from headphones to the ear. However, there is no evidence that they are unsuitable for use with noise band stimuli. This standard specifies the following, for populations within the age limits from 18 years to 80 years for the range of audiometric frequencies from 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz: a) the expected median value of hearing thresholds given relative to the median hearing threshold at the age of 18 years; b) the expected statistical distribution above and below the median value. For the frequencies from 3 000 Hz to 8 000 Hz, the median and statistical distribution for populations above 70 years are presented for information only. This document also provides for information the expected median values at audiometric frequencies from 9 000 Hz to 12 500 Hz within the age limits from 22 years to 80 years. The data may be used to determine an individual's hearing ability relative to the normal distribution of hearing thresholds for that person's age group. However, it is not possible to precisely determine what proportion of an observed hearing loss is caused by the age-related accumulation of harmful influences on hearing for an individual and what proportion is caused by other factors, such as noise. The standard differs from DIN EN ISO 7029:2017-06 as follows: a) correction of the parameter values for estimating the hearing threshold distribution. This document contains descriptive statistics on the deviation of hearing thresholds from populations of otologically normal individuals of different ages under single-ear headphone listening conditions. This standard specifies the following, for populations within the age limits from 18 years to 80 years for the range of audiometric frequencies from 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz: a) the expected median value of hearing thresholds given relative to the median hearing threshold at the age of 18 years; b) the expected statistical distribution above and below the median value.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

DKE/GUK 821.6 - Hörgeräte und audiometrische Messtechnik  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 211 - Acoustics  

Responsible international committee

ISO/TC 43/WG 1 - Threshold of hearing