Threshold Equalizing Noise Test Reveals Suprathreshold Loss of Hearing Function, Even in the "Normal" Audiogram Range.
Michael A Stone, Emanuele Perugia, Warren Bakay and 3 others
PMID 35276701WHAT IT FOUND
The study found no link between lifetime noise exposure and suprathreshold hearing loss in people with normal audiograms.
Instead, hearing function declined with age, suggesting age-related changes obscure early noise damage in older adults.
Key findings
01There was no correlation found between the signal-to-noise ratio (STR) and general noise exposure metrics.
02Hearing deficits were linked to absolute thresholds and age, not to cumulative noise exposure.
03The TFS-AF test found no evidence of noise-induced damage to the inner hair cell pathway outside the classic high-frequency region.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study recruited older participants (mean age 51.8 years), and age-related hearing decline may have obscured the effects of noise exposure. Noise exposure history was based on self-reported recall, which can be inaccurate, especially for older adults. The sample was selected for normal low-frequency hearing, which limits generalizability to those with established hearing loss.
Declared interests
The study was supported by non-U.S. government funding. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR, or Department of Health and Social Care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that noise exposure is harmless or that the TEN test is useless for all ages. This study specifically found that in older adults with normal audiograms, age-related changes dominated the hearing profile, masking noise-induced deficits. It does not rule out noise damage in younger populations or those with different hearing profiles.