High frequency hearing loss involves losing ones ability to hear higher pitches of sound. This can include higher women's voices and certain sounds like the consonants “S” and “P.” This type of issue can be caused by damage caused by loud noises or other issues. Although treatment for this condition used to be minimally effective, those with high frequency hearing loss are now sometimes helped with the use of hearing aids.
Those who suffer from high frequency hearing loss can generally still hear lower frequencies since the part of the ear which is damaged is not responsible for detecting these sounds. Conventional hearing aids are not effective at treating this type of loss, so patients were once required to live with the effects of the disorder. Today, newer digital hearing aids can be programmed to various frequencies, so they can be set to meet each individual’s needs.
Other types of hearing aids can also be used for high frequency hearing loss by opening the ear so that lower frequencies can be heard more easily and higher frequencies are amplified. Each person is an individual and may require different treatment than someone else. It is important for all patients to avoid additional hearing loss by avoiding loud noises and protecting the ears when using power tools or when listening to music.
Patients should be examined by a trained audiologist in order to determine the type of hearing loss they are dealing with and to help determine the best course of treatment. They may be checked to find out which frequencies cause the most problems so that the hearing aid can be properly programmed to allow the best results. This may require various tests and trial and error before finding the right solution.
Each person should be taught to program and use his or her hearing aid when treating high frequency hearing loss. Additional visits to the doctor are generally needed to determine how well the device is working and to make any adjustments if it isn’t working as intended. Occasionally, a person’s hearing loss may only be temporary. Other times, additional treatments may be necessary if other areas of the ears are also damaged.
Individuals can test their hearing on certain websites to determine the highest frequency one can hear. These work by playing a series of sounds and determining which can be heard. This test is not a substitute for a trained medical professional.
