Keywords :
Anemia, Characteristic frequency, Frequency resolution, Frequency selectivity, Psychophysical tuning curves, Q10
Citation Information :
Honnegowda T, Krishnamurthy A, Kumaraswamy NH, Guttedar A. Frequency Selectivity of the Auditory System in Females with Anemia: An Indian Scenario. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Clin 2023; 15 (3):95-98.
Background: Frequency selectivity is one of the processes of the auditory system to evaluate the individual components of a complex sound. Frequency selectivity is one of the most critical factors that determine speech perception, particularly in the presence of competing signals. Anemia is a clinical scenario in which there is a decreased level of red blood cells. Evidence suggests that anemia is more prevalent in females than males and could be an early indicator of hearing loss. The objective of the study is to compare the frequency selective abilities in normal hearing females with and without anemia.
Materials and methods: A total of 30 females in the age range of 20–30 years with hearing sensitivity within normal limits participated, in which 15 females were anemic, and 15 females were non-anemic. A total of 60 ears were evaluated. The auditory system frequency selectivity was measured through psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs) at different characteristic frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz), and Q10 values for the same were calculated at different characteristic frequencies.
Results: In this study, there was reduced Q10 value for females with anemia at all the characteristic frequencies compared to females without anemia, indicating poor frequency resolution in females with anemia.
Conclusion: The outcomes of the present study will help in understanding the changing frequency selectivity of the auditory system in individuals with anemia.
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