Causes and Hearing Aids for High Frequency Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a broad term that encompasses many different types of hearing conditions. High-frequency hearing loss refers to difficulty hearing high pitched sounds. Read on to learn more about this specific type of hearing loss, as well as diagnosis & treatment. 

Many factors can cause this type of hearing loss:

• Aging. Natural deterioration of hair cells in the cochlea over time can affect the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. [2]
  
• Noise‑induced hearing loss. Prolonged or repeated exposure to loud sounds (e.g., music played too loudly through earbuds) can damage inner ear hair cells. Prolonged sounds over ~85 dB can be harmful, while sudden bursts over 120 dB (like gunshots) can cause instant loss.  [3] Noise induced hearing loss occurs in the high frequencies first but can progress to mid and low frequencies with repeated noise exposure. 

Learn more about decoding decibel charts.

• Illness or trauma. Damage to the inner ear from drugs or infections can lead to sensorineural loss, often affecting higher frequencies.

A diagnosis often involves an audiometric assessment, a standard evaluation that includes pure-tone audiometry at higher frequencies to measure where hearing starts to decline.

Then, the results are plotted as an audiogram, a graph that shows exactly which frequencies are affected.

Yes, hearing aids can help! Here are some of the ideal types of hearing aids for high frequency hearing loss:

• Open‑fit BTE (Behind‑the‑Ear). These let low‑frequency sounds pass naturally while amplifying high frequencies, ideal when low‑frequency hearing is still good.
  
• RIC (Receiver‑in‑Canal). RIC hearing aids have a discreet appearance and also utilize an open fit earpiece which allows natural sound quality for low and mid frequency sounds while amplifying the higher frequencies.  

To Read: RIC vs. BTE Hearing Aids

Audiologists choose hearing aids based on individual hearing profiles, so there isn’t a “best” hearing aid for high frequency loss. Personalization matters here, so make sure you’re consulting with a hearing health care expert. 

Some individuals experience high‑frequency hearing loss in one ear only (unilateral loss). Causes for this may be similar—noise exposure, inner‑ear conditions—but localized to one side. Unilateral loss can impair localization and lead to tinnitus in one ear. Treatments include conventional hearing aids, Contralateral Routing of Signals (CROS) devices, or cochlear implants, depending on severity. [5]

If you’re experiencing hearing loss in only one ear that has occurred within the last 90 days, please seek prompt medical attention. It could indicate an underlying health issue.