High frequency hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It’s also referred to as high pitch hearing loss. It occurs when a person can’t hear certain sounds in the high frequency range (2,000-8,000 Hz). With healthy hearing, this can move up to 20,000 Hz, but as people age, hearing loss starts at the highest frequencies and ‘moves its way down’ the frequency scale. This is why even people in their 30s already can’t hear the high pitches in this video.
Symptoms
High frequency hearing loss can creep up slowly. At first, someone with this type of hearing loss might not realize they’re experiencing a problem. This is because low pitches are still easily heard.
The first signs of such hearing loss include trouble hearing in large groups, noisy rooms, or with other background noise. Female and children’s voices can also be difficult to hear, as well as the sounds F, H, and S.
Causes
There are a lot of reasons that hearing loss in the higher frequencies can occur. Anyone and everyone is susceptible to it, including young adults. Aging is the most common cause. Genetics, drug exposure, and certain diseases can all contribute to the loss of hearing at high frequency as well. Exposure to loud noises is also a major contributor. People who work with gunfire and explosives, such as military personnel, are more susceptible to this hearing loss. An alarming number of young adults are now experiencing this type of hearing loss. Experts believe this is due to the exposure of loud noises in headphones and ear buds.
Treatment of High Frequency Hearing Loss
There aren’t many options for treating this type of hearing loss medically. Hearing aids and hearing amplifiers are the most common treatment. Many hearing amplifiers can be adjusted to focus on high frequency amplification specifically. Read up on the best hearing amplifiers for 2020 in our special blog post or visit my page with all current reviewed models ranked.
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