Gender variation in age-related hearing loss using pure tone audiometry in city of Bengaluru

Materials and Methods: Subjects were selected after thorough history to exclude any past history of otorrhoea, usage of ototoxic drugs, head injury, and subjects exposed to noise at work place. An age associated decline in hearing sensitivity in the absence of known otological disorders or noise induced hearing loss is extremely common, and our knowledge of natural history of age-related hearing loss is limited, particularly among women. An attempt is made to examine gender differences in rates of changes in hearing thresholds after minimizing effects of factors such as noise-induced hearing loss and other otological disorders. Exclusion Criteria History of recent otorrhoea, use of ototoxic drugs, history of head injuries or subjects exposed to noise at work place, diabetics, hypertension, smoking, complaints of fever, cough, or rhinitis were excluded from the study.