A Norwegian study has found that asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) is relatively common in the general population, especially in the high‐frequency range and also especially among men and the elderly.

The prevalence of asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) in the study was 6% for the 0.5 to 2 kHz range and 15% for 3 to 6 kHz range.

Occupational noise exposure

The study also investigated the relationship between occupational noise exposure and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) but found no relationship between occupational noise exposure and asymmetric hearing loss.

About the study

The findings in the study were based on a cross‐sectional population study in Norway (The Health Investigation in Nord‐Trøndelag: HUNT) with 24,183 participants, using pure‐tone audiometry and questionnaires.

In the study, Asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) was defined as a difference in hearing threshold between the right and left ears of greater than or equal to 15 dB for the pure‐tone average of 0.5-2 or 3-6 kHz.

The study, “Occupational noise exposure and asymmetric hearing loss: Results from the HUNT population study in Norway”, was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Sources: www.physiciansweekly.com and the American Journal of Industrial Medicine