High Frequency Hearing Loss

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You may also have trouble discriminating between different sounds when there’s background noise present.

What You Need to Know About High Frequency Hearing Loss

High frequency hearing loss causes problems with hearing high-pitched sounds. It can also lead to problems understanding fast speech . Damage to the hair-like structures in your inner ear can cause this specific type of hearing loss.

Frequency is a measure of the number of vibrations a sound wave makes per second. For example, a sound measured at 4,000 Hz vibrates 4,000 times per second. The frequency, which is the pitch of a sound, is different from the intensity, which is how loud a sound feels.

For example, the note middle C on a keyboard has a frequency of roughly just below 262 Hz. If you lightly tap the key, you can produce a sound with a low intensity that’s barely audible. If you hit the key harder, you can produce a much louder sound at the same pitch.

Anybody can develop high frequency hearing loss, but it becomes more common with age. Exposure to loud sounds or high frequency sounds are common causes of ear damage in younger people.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the symptoms and causes of high frequency hearing loss. We’ll also tell you how you can take steps to protect your ears.

If you have high pitch hearing loss, you may have trouble hearing sounds like:

doorbells
phone and appliance beeps
female and children voices
birds and animal sounds

You may also have trouble discriminating between different sounds when there’s background noise present.

Hearing loss is extremely common in the United States. Roughly 22 million people are exposed to dangerous levels of noise at work. Once the structures in your inner ear are damaged, it often isn’t possible to reverse hearing loss.

Hearing damage can either be classified as sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, or a combination of the two.

Sensorineural hearing loss is the more common type. It occurs when your auditory nerve or the hair cells inside your inner ear’s cochlea become damaged. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually permanent but may be improved with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Conductive hearing loss is less common. This type of hearing loss involves a blockage or damage to your middle ear or outer ear structures. It may be caused by built-up ear wax or a broken ear bone. In some cases, this type of hearing loss may be reversible.

If you have hearing loss, you should visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

Your outer ear funnels sound toward your ear canal and ear drum. The three bones in your middle ear called the malleus, incus, and stapes carry vibrations from your ear drum to a spiraling organ in your inner ear called the cochlea.

Your cochlea contains hair cells with tiny hair-like projections called stereocilia. These structures convert sound vibrations into neural impulses.

When these hairs become damaged, you may experience high frequency hearing loss. You have about 16,000 hair cells in your cochlea when you’re born. Hearing damage might not be detectable until 30 to 50 percent of hair cells are damaged.

The following factors can lead to damage of your stereocilia.

Aging

Age-related hearing loss is common among older adults. About 1 in 3 people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss. It affects half of adults over age 75.

Noise damage

You can suffer hearing damage from both high frequency sounds and overly loud sounds. Frequently using headphones at a loud volume can cause permanent hearing loss.

One 2018 study examined the relationship between portable music players and hearing loss in children. The researchers looked at more than 3,000 children between the ages of 9 and 11. They found that 14 percent of the children had some degree of high frequency hearing loss. Children who used portable music players just once or twice a week were more than twice as likely to have hearing loss that those who didn’t use the music players at all.

Middle ear infection

Infections of the middle ear have the potential to cause a buildup of fluid and temporary hearing loss. Permanent damage to your eardrum or other middle ear structures might occur in cases of serious infection.

Tumors

Tumors called acoustic neuromas can press on your auditory nerve and cause hearing loss and tinnitus on one side.

Genetics

Hearing loss may be partially genetic. If somebody in your family has hearing loss, you’re predisposed to developing it, too.

Medications

Medications that can cause hearing impairments by harming the inner ear or auditory nerve are referred to as ototoxic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some antibiotics, and some cancer treatment medications are among potential ototoxic medications.

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease targets your inner ear and causes fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. It’s caused by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear that may be caused by a viral infection, immune response, a blockage, or a genetic predisposition. Meniere’s disease generally affects one ear.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing noise in your ears. It’s thought that as many as 60 million people in the United States have some form of tinnitus. Often, hearing loss accompanies the symptoms of tinnitus. It’s important to note that tinnitus may be a symptom of hearing loss but not a cause.

High frequency sensorineural hearing loss is usually permanent and is commonly caused by damage to the hair cells in your cochlea. A hearing aid that targets high frequency sounds may be the best option if your hearing loss is serious enough to impair your life.

Technological improvement in the past 25 years has led to the creation of hearing aids that can better match your specific type of hearing loss. Modern hearing devices often even have Bluetooth technology to sync with phones and tablets.

You can take steps to prevent high frequency hearing loss by avoiding sounds with a high pitch or frequency. Even one-time exposure to loud noises over 85 decibels can cause irreversible hearing loss.

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

What is high frequency hearing loss?

High frequency hearing loss is a disorder that affects a person’s hearing. People with high frequency hearing loss have trouble hearing high frequency sounds.

Exposure to certain types of noise is the most common cause of high frequency hearing loss, and anyone can develop it.

In this article, we discuss the meaning and causes of high frequency hearing loss. We also discuss the symptoms of high frequency hearing loss and the potential treatment and prevention methods.

People with high frequency hearing loss have trouble hearing high frequency or high pitched sounds.

Sound travels by waves, and high frequency sounds have many waves. People measure the frequency of sound waves in hertz (Hz). Humans can hear sounds from 20 to 20,000 Hz.

High frequency hearing loss is a hearing disorder that can affect people of all ages. Exposure to harmful sounds that are loud or long lasting can cause high frequency hearing loss, but this is not the only cause. Hearing loss can also happen as people get older, as a result of a condition called presbycusis.

Doctors and hearing specialists, or audiologists, also refer to high frequency hearing loss as noise-induced hearing loss.

Some people may have temporary high frequency hearing loss, while others may have permanent damage. High frequency hearing loss may occur in one or both ears.

When sound waves enter the ear, they travel to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates and sends the vibrations to three tiny bones in the middle ear. The vibration of these bones causes the fluid in the cochlea — a structure in the inner ear — to ripple.

The rippling causes hair cells — sensory cells in the inner ear — to wave. The auditory nerve senses the waving and allows the brain to interpret sound. The auditory cortex is the special part of the brain that interprets the signals from the nerve.

Exposures to some damaging sounds can cause high frequency hearing loss by damaging hair cells in the inner ear. Hair cells cannot grow back or repair themselves after damage occurs.

A one-time exposure to intensely loud noise, such as a gunshot, can cause high frequency hearing loss. The loud burst of noise can damage the tiny bones in the ear.

Continuous exposure to a damaging sound, such as noise from a woodworking or mechanic’s shop, can also cause high frequency hearing loss.

Certain noisy activities can contribute to high frequency hearing loss, such as:

shooting
hunting
listening to music at high volumes through earphones, headphones, or earbuds
playing in a band
attending loud concerts
using a leaf blower

Researchers have identified gene mutations involved in hair cell development and function that may have an association with high frequency hearing loss, such as variants of the MYO3A gene.

Doctors also suggest that certain medications or health conditions may contribute to hearing loss. Drugs that could cause high frequency hearing loss include:

aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin and tobramycin
the cancer drug cisplatin
high doses of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19

People who develop high frequency hearing loss may slowly lose their hearing. Usually, damage to hair cells from excessive sound progresses gradually. People may not notice hearing loss immediately. They may ignore symptoms until the effect becomes more significant.

People with high frequency hearing loss may have trouble understanding speech. Sounds may seem muffled or distorted. People may frequently need to turn up the volume on the television.

Extremely loud sounds that cause immediate damage to the eardrum or the tiny bones in the inner ear can lead to rapid, noticeable, and permanent hearing loss.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing in the ears. Some people with tinnitus may experience a continuous buzzing or roaring sound in the ears or head. Tinnitus typically occurs with hearing loss, with or without loud noise exposure.

Audiologists perform a hearing test to diagnose high frequency hearing loss. They can use data from an audiometer to determine a person’s level of hearing loss. The results from hearing tests help audiologists select the most appropriate treatment approach.

People can use internet-based hearing tests to check for hearing loss. However, not all online hearing tests are equal in quality, so a person should confirm a diagnosis of hearing loss with an audiologist.

Treatment options for high frequency hearing loss are limited. Once a person has damage to their hair cells, eardrum, or inner ear bones, repair is not possible.

Doctors and audiologists can recommend hearing aids for people with high frequency hearing loss.

Another treatment option is electric acoustic stimulation. This treatment combines a cochlear implant under the skin near the ear with a hearing aid worn in the ear. This allows a person to recognize low and high frequency sounds.

Alternatively, a doctor may recommend a cochlear implant alone. Specialized implants are available for people with severe high frequency loss and preserved hearing in the low frequencies.

People with high frequency hearing loss may hear deep voices well but not high pitched sounds such as children’s voices, bells, and alarms.

In conversations, people with high frequency hearing loss may not respond or participate. Straining to hear a conversation in a loud area can be exhausting for a person with hearing loss.

Loved ones or caregivers may find it challenging to support a person with high frequency hearing loss. Starting a conversation about hearing loss requires an open and honest discussion about its social and emotional impacts. Participating in support groups may help people remove the stigma surrounding hearing loss.

High frequency hearing loss may affect each person differently. It is not entirely preventable , but protecting the ears from loud noises can lower the risk.

Practicing good hearing health involves:

knowing what sounds can damage sensory cells in the inner ear
wearing earplugs or protective hearing devices when exposed to loud noises
being aware of damaging sounds in the environment
protecting children’s ears from loud noises
scheduling hearing tests

It is not possible to prevent age-related hearing loss.

High frequency hearing loss is severe because it can progress, becoming more severe. However, appropriate measures can help people manage it.

Hearing loss may have complications. It can affect a person’s quality of life and social interactions. It can lead to isolation and depression and affect people’s performance at work and in school. In children, it can delay speech development. For these reasons, it is essential to seek help if a person notices that hearing loss is affecting their ability to carry out daily tasks.

High frequency hearing loss due to drugs or medical conditions can be irreversible. However, researchers studying the effects of COVID-19 and hydroxychloroquine use on hearing reported an improvement over time.

Many health conditions and medications can cause tinnitus. Some people, but not everyone, with high frequency hearing loss may have tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a sound in the ears that people describe as:

People who work in noisy environments, such as factories or construction sites, can develop tinnitus from repeated exposure to loud sounds.

Tinnitus is one of the most common disabilities among veterans returning from war. Exposure to bomb blasts can cause ear damage.

Other possible causes of tinnitus include hormonal changes, heart and blood vessel disorders, and ear infections.

People who notice hearing loss or tinnitus should consult a doctor. Audiologists can help diagnose and treat hearing loss.

A doctor or audiologist can help people with hearing loss prevent further damage. In addition, audiologists can help people manage hearing loss by recommending hearing aids or other treatments.

Consulting a doctor or audiologist to learn about prevention strategies can help reduce the risk of high frequency hearing loss, particularly for people who work in noisy environments.

High frequency hearing loss is a common hearing disorder with many complications, including progressive hearing loss.

The leading cause of high frequency hearing loss is exposure to loud or excessive noise.

Doctors cannot repair the damage to a person’s hair cells, eardrums, or inner ear bones. However, they can offer strategies and recommend hearing aids to improve hearing. In severe cases, surgery may be appropriate.

People can prevent noise-induced high frequency hearing loss. People working in noisy environments should consider wearing protective ear devices to preserve their hearing.

Last medically reviewed on October 31, 2022

Genetics
Ear, Nose, and Throat
Hearing / Deafness

How we reviewed this article:

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9126133
Doll, J., et al. (2020). A novel missense variant in MYO3A is associated with autosomal dominant high‐frequency hearing loss in a German family.
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High Frequency Hearing Loss