High-Frequency Audiometry for Early Detection of Hearing Loss: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The WHO considers hearing loss to be a major global problem. A literature search was conducted to see whether high-frequency audiometry (HFA) could be used for the early detection of hearing loss. A further aim was to see whether any differences exist in the hearing threshold using conventional audiometry (CA) and HFA in workers of different age groups exposed to workplace noise. Our search of electronic databases yielded a total of 5938 scientific papers. The inclusion criteria were the keywords “high frequency” and “audiometry” appearing anywhere in the article and the participation of unexposed people or a group exposed to workplace noise. Fifteen studies met these conditions; the sample size varied (51–645 people), and the age range of the people studied was 5–90 years. Commercial high-frequency audiometers and high-frequency headphones were used. In populations unexposed to workplace noise, significantly higher thresholds of 14–16 kHz were found. In populations with exposure to workplace noise, significantly higher statistical thresholds were found for the exposed group (EG) compared with the control group (CG) at frequencies of 9–18 kHz, especially at 16 kHz. The studies also showed higher hearing thresholds of 10–16 kHz in respondents aged under 31 years following the use of personal listening devices (PLDs) for longer than 5 years. The effect of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) first became apparent for HFA rather than CA. However, normative data have not yet been collected. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a uniform evaluation protocol accounting for age, sex, comorbidities and exposures, as well as for younger respondents using PLDs.

Extended high-frequency audiometry: hearing thresholds in adults

“…Study limitations include relatively small numbers of individuals in individual age/sex groups. As otitis media can also affect hearing [ 21 ], the fact that we did not collect anamnestic data about otitis in the history of individual patients can also be considered a limitation to our study.…”

Relationship between hypertension/blood pressure and hearing sensitivity among drivers: A correlation analysis

“…Many study findings remarkably confirmed the concept that EHFA hearing thresholds may be more sensitive for early detection of hearing damage than conventional PTA at lower frequencies. [ 24 25 26 27 ] However, there is a dearth of evidence assessing the relationship between hypertension and hearing loss using EHFA. To the best of our knowledge, only one population-based study has used EHFA testing to investigate the relationship between hearing sensitivity and hypertension.…”

Analysis of Early Biomarkers Associated With Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Shipyard Workers

“…While the equipment for conducting clinical audiometric tests is widely available, that for assessing hearing at the EHFs is more expensive and not widely available. The use of EHF audiometry as an early indicator of NIHL is still controversial, but our results, as well as previous studies, 37 , 38 suggest that EHF audiometry (from 9-20 kHz) could identify the first signs of NIHL, especially at 12.5 to 18 kHz. We conducted a large-scale study on shipyard workers in China aged 20 to 60 years, on the assumption that people in this age range would be old enough for noise exposure effects to be measurable but young enough that aging effects would be minimized.…”