Hearing loss often begins with the disappearance of high-pitched sounds. High frequencies, ranging from 2,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz, become harder to perceive with age, but they can also become inaudible at any age when hearing deteriorates for other reasons. Sound waves are measured in frequencies: high-pitched sounds, like birdsong or children's voices, have a high frequency, while deep male voices or the rumble of a truck fall into the low frequencies.
Am I experiencing high-frequency hearing loss? See if any of the following situations resonate with you.
You have difficulty hearing soft consonants like S, H, or F when people speak to you.
Speech sounds muffled on the phone or TV.
You struggle to follow a conversation in a noisy environment.
You hear women's and children's voices, birdsong, or appliance beeps less well.
Your loved ones tell you the TV is too loud.
Some sounds seem very loud to you.
Diagnosing high-frequency hearing loss
If you suspect you have high-frequency hearing loss, you can consult an otolaryngologist, the doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases of the ear, nose, throat, and neck. If the doctor finds no physiological cause, the next step is a hearing evaluation. In a soundproof booth, within a hearing center, a hearing aid specialist or audiologist will ask you to indicate when you hear a sound and in which ear. Your results are recorded on an audiogram. Frequencies are measured in hertz: the human ear should perceive sounds between 20 Hz and approximately 20,000 Hz. If you have difficulty hearing sounds between 2,000 and 8,000 Hz, you have high-frequency hearing loss. This loss can be mild or severe and affect one ear more than the other.
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
Hearing loss can result from damage to the structures of the inner ear. When the tiny hair cells in your inner ear are damaged, high-frequency hearing loss occurs. These hair cells, called stereocilia, convert the sounds captured by your ears into electrical impulses sent to the brain. Your brain then interprets the sound. Stereocilia become sparser with age, and many factors can damage them, as well as other inner ear structures.
Aging
One in three adults over 65 experiences hearing loss, and after 75, it's one in two. This loss is due to the degeneration of the cochlea, associated inner ear structures, or the auditory nerve. Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis. In rare cases, abnormalities in the outer or middle ear cause age-related loss. These abnormalities reduce the function of the eardrum or the three ossicles of the middle ear that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Noise
A single loud noise, like a gunshot, can cause hearing loss, and permanent exposure to noise above 85 decibels causes damage. Exposure to this sound level damages the sensory hair cells in the ear. Once damaged, these cells do not regrow, and your hearing declines.
Heredity
If family members have developed high-frequency hearing loss, you may be genetically predisposed to it. Early degeneration of inner ear components can be inherited.
Medications
Some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can harm your hearing. These include high-dose aspirin, chemotherapy treatments, and certain antibiotics.
Diseases
Conditions common in older adults, such as hypertension and diabetes, can contribute to hearing loss. Meniere's disease, usually diagnosed between 30 and 50 years old, damages hearing, but it mainly affects low frequencies. In children, untreated chronic ear infections can lead to hearing loss.
Treating and preventing high-frequency hearing loss
High-frequency hearing loss is usually irreversible, but hearing aids provide excellent results for this type of loss. As soon as you notice a decline in your hearing, take steps to prevent further damage.
While high-frequency hearing loss cannot be reversed, some of it can be prevented. Protect your hearing from exposures above 85 decibels. Lower the volume of your personal electronic devices and wear hearing protection in noisy environments: shooting ranges, sporting events, concerts. If your hobbies are noisy, such as snowmobiling or powerboating, get earplugs from a pharmacy or, better yet, invest in noise-canceling headphones.
Health risks of hearing loss
When hearing loss is not managed or corrected, health can suffer. In older adults, untreated hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression. Hearing-impaired seniors also fall more often.
In children, high-frequency hearing loss can hinder speech and language development. It can also compromise academic success.
High-frequency hearing loss, common in seniors, is effectively corrected with hearing aids and limited with sensible hearing protection. In young adults and children, early screening and management make all the difference for their future health.
