Effect on contralateral masking on auditory discrimination of patients with presbycusis

Abstract

Presbycusis is the hearing function deficit that occurs as a consequence of the aging phenomenon, bringing as a result limitations to communicate and bond with the environment, affecting the daily life of the elderly who suffers from it. In this sense, it is considered whether applying contralateral masking in patients with presbycusis affects auditory discrimination. Objectives: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of patients with presbycusis, the degree of hearing loss and the percentage of auditory discrimination, finally comparing the auditory discrimination with masking and without contralateral masking. Methods: it was an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study. Results: We obtained a general average for the age of 77.4 years, the male sex predominated, representing 59% of the total sample (29 patients). Moderate hearing loss for both ears was the most frequent. The type of discrimination that prevailed was normal for both ears with 45% of the sample. Only 14% of the patients studied presented changes when applying contralateral masking. Applying t-Student of difference of two samples for the discrimination without masking and with masking in the right ear, it was observed that there is a statistically significant change (p= 0.044); likewise for the left ear with masking and without masking, obtaining the same conclusion but with a p higher than the right ear (p=0.053). Conclusions: The results obtained in this study show that applying contralateral masking during logoaudiometry in patients with presbycusis if there are changes, then approaching daily life, which could contribute to their comprehensive rehabilitation.