NEET-PG 2012 — ENT

Question 1: 65-year-old person with hearing loss with normal speech discrimination is suffering from?

• A. Noise induced hearing loss
• B. Presbycusis (Correct Answer)
• C. Ototoxic drug
• D. NOHL

Explanation: ***Presbycusis*** - **Presbycusis**, or age-related hearing loss, is characterized by a gradual, symmetrical, **sensorineural hearing loss** primarily affecting high frequencies. - Importantly, **speech discrimination** is typically preserved in the early and moderate stages of presbycusis, which aligns with the normal speech discrimination in a 65-year-old. *Noise induced hearing loss* - **Noise-induced hearing loss** is caused by exposure to loud noise and often presents with a characteristic **4 kHz notch** in the audiogram. - While it can cause sensorineural hearing loss, it's not exclusively defined by the age-related onset and might involve more significant **speech discrimination difficulties** depending on the severity and frequency range affected. *Ototoxic drug* - Hearing loss due to **ototoxic drugs** (e.g., aminoglycosides, cisplatin) typically manifests as a **bilateral, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss** that can progress rapidly. - The history of **drug exposure** would be a key differentiating factor, and while speech discrimination can be affected, the lack of other specific details makes this less likely without further information. *NOHL* - **NOHL** is not a standard, recognized medical acronym for a specific type of hearing loss. - This option is likely a distractor and does not represent a known diagnosis fitting the described clinical picture.