Do you experience a ringing sound or a high-pitched sound in your ears after being around loud sounds?
Sounds and noises, like music, voices, and machinery, can be louder than they should be. And while these sounds are a normal part of life, they can cause hearing loss over time.
Need to know the causes of high-frequency hearing loss and how to protect your ears?
Keep reading for more information about high-frequency hearing loss and how to treat it.
Damage to the Inner Ear
High-frequency hearing loss is caused by lesions in the internal ear. This type of hearing loss causes damage to the thousands of tiny hair cells in the cochlea. That is responsible for converting sound waves into nerve signals.
The most common symptoms are difficulty understanding speech and buzzing. Treatment involves using hearing aids or assisted-listening devices. As well as educating the patient on strategies for listening in noisy environments.
Surgery can also use sometimes or rehabilitative therapies such as speech and sound therapy.
Earwax Blockage
Earwax blockage is a common cause of high-frequency hearing loss. It can accumulate in the ear canal, and when these hardened deposits press against the delicate bones of the ear. They can distort the sound waves heard and decrease the high-frequency range of hearing.
Treatment for earwax blockage involves ear flushing. Specialized tools are used to flush the wax without damaging the delicate structures of the ear. It allows for improving your hearing.
If the blockage is too severe, medical intervention is essential. Such as the use of laser-assisted wax removal techniques. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to preventing further loss of hearing.
Noise Exposure
Another cause of high-frequency hearing loss is noise exposure. It occurs when someone experiences a very loud sound. Such as those found at a construction site, woodworking shop, or factory setting.
Exposure to unprocessed noise causes permanent damage to delicate hair cells in the ear and may cause hearing loss. Treatment for this type of hearing loss is prevented.
Avoiding loud sounds wherever possible, using ear protection. It monitors sound that reaches certain decibel levels. When possible, it is better to move away from the noise source than to reduce the noise.
If the damage has already occurred, the only available treatment is the use of hearing aids. These devices amplify the sound so that it reaches the ear more easily and reduces the strain of trying to hear.
Genetic Conditions
High-frequency hearing loss is a type of hearing impairment. It can cause genetic conditions and is often inherited from family members. Genetic causes include the inherited condition otosclerosis, which causes abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.
Usher syndrome and NF2 are other genetic disorders caused by a mutation of the NF2 gene. Usher syndrome and NF2 are other genetic disorders caused by a mutation of the NF2 gene. It can cause genetic conditions and is often inherited from family members.
Treatment options depend on the cause, but they may include surgical interventions, such as the insertion of an ossicular chain reconstruction. Patients must seek early detection and intervention to prevent the progression of the condition. This can also associate with hearing issues.
Aging
Aging is one of the primary causes of high-frequency hearing loss. As we age, the hair cells within the inner ear that process sound become damaged, impacting their ability to transmit electrical signals to the brain.
The loss of those cells affects the ability to perceive higher-frequency sounds like those of a person speaking in a high-pitched voice. Treatment options include the use of hearing aids to amplify higher-frequency sounds, as well as cochlear implants.
Use of Certain Medications
High-frequency hearing loss, a type of sensorineural hearing loss, leads to damage to the nerve endings within the inner ear. One common cause of high-frequency hearing loss is the use of certain medications, specifically those used in chemotherapy.
Examples of these medications include cisplatin, carboplatin, and bleomycin. While chemotherapy can help treat certain cancers. This medication can also damage the cochlea or auditory nerve, resulting in high-frequency hearing loss.
The extent of hearing loss caused by the use of these medications can vary. It depends on the specific drugs used and the patient’s blood pressure, kidney and thyroid function, vitamins, and hormone levels.
Treatment for high-frequency hearing loss caused by the use of certain medications. It allows the person to adapt to hearing loss and adjust to the sounds heard at different frequencies.
Diseases
High-frequency hearing loss is a condition in which a person struggles to hear high-frequency sounds. Diseases like Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, and ear tumors can cause it.
Treatment for this condition depends on the cause. For example, genetic high-frequency hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids, while certain diseases may treat with medication or surgery.
Head Trauma
Head trauma from the sudden force to the head can cause damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear and can lead to high-frequency hearing loss. This type of injury may result from a traffic accident, a fall, a direct hit to the head, or any other form of a traumatic event involving the head.
Traumatic wounds can fracture the skull bones and cause bleeding in the inner ear, resulting in temporary or permanent hearing impairment. Symptoms of high-frequency hearing loss include difficulty hearing soft-spoken words. Also, hearing is muffled or distorted.
Treatment typically involves hearing aids to amplify sound or a cochlear implant to stimulate auditory neurons.
Learn These Causes of High-Frequency Hearing Loss
A variety of factors can cause high-frequency hearing loss. It includes damage to the inner ear, earwax blockage, noise exposure, genetic conditions, aging, and the use of certain medications. Treatment can range from hearing aids to surgery, depending on the severity of the hearing loss.
It is necessary to seek professional help when experiencing high-frequency hearing loss. A hearing care professional can help determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
Contact a trusted professional today to discuss your unique hearing needs.
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