High-frequency hearing loss makes higher-pitched sounds harder to hear. While the condition can affect anyone, it is commonly seen in hearing loss related to aging and exposure to loud noise.
Signs of High-frequency Hearing Loss
When you have high-frequency hearing loss, you struggle to hear noises that are between 2,000-8,000 hertz (Hz). This can manifest in several ways, including:
- Difficulty understanding women’s and children’s voices
- Trouble hearing the birds chirping at Hybernia Nature Preserve
- Feel like you can hear people, but struggle to understand what it is they are saying
- Telephone conversations sound muffled
- Words that start or end with s, h, and f are harder to hear
Who Is at Risk for High-frequency Hearing Loss?
Several factors can make it more likely that you may develop high-frequency hearing loss, including:
- Aging
- Repeated exposure to loud noise
- Certain genetic conditions
- Ototoxic medications that can damage the ear
- Ménière’sdisease
How Is High-frequency Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
If you have experienced signs of high-frequency hearing loss, you should schedule an appointment for a hearing test as soon as possible. Hearing loss is both gradual and progressive, meaning it will continue to get worse without treatment.
Hearing tests are fast and offer same-day results, which typically allow an audiologist to provide an immediate diagnosis and begin a treatment plan.
Hearing Aids Can Restore the Sounds You’ve Been Missing
Hearing aids are an effective treatment for most forms of hearing loss, including high-frequency hearing loss. While you may feel overwhelmed by the number of options that exist when it comes to hearing aids, you and your audiologist will work together to determine what style and features best address your individual needs and fit with your lifestyle.
Using hearing aids helps improve your ability to communicate with others. With them, you can relax and enjoy a conversation with your spouse or have a fun day at the beach with your grandchildren without worrying that your hearing loss will make it hard to communicate.
Not only that, but people who treat their hearing loss with hearing aids experience better physical, mental and cognitive health than those who leave their condition untreated.
Take the first step towards better hearing health today and schedule an appointment with the experts at North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab.