High-frequency hearing loss: Can hearing aids help?

Many years ago, I was diagnosed with high-frequency hearing loss. I was told that hearing aids probably wouldn't help. Recently, I've seen advertisements claiming new technology in hearing aids can fix all hearing problems. Am I a candidate for hearing aids now?

- No name / No state given

Mayo Clinic geriatrician Paul Takahashi, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Yes. In recent years, hearing aid manufacturers have made great strides in developing hearing aids that are effective for all types of hearing loss — including high-frequency hearing loss.

High-frequency hearing loss has long posed special challenges for those with hearing loss and for hearing aid manufacturers. People with high-frequency hearing loss have trouble hearing higher pitches, such as women's and children's voices, and certain parts of speech, such as consonants. They find it especially difficult to converse in groups or to hear amid background noise.

Conventional hearing aids hadn't been able to significantly improve high-frequency hearing loss because they didn't selectively amplify the high frequencies as well as the digital circuits that are available today can. Also, high-frequency gain was often inadequate due to difficulty with feedback, which is better controlled with digital circuits.

The advent of digital technology, however, has resulted in significant hearing aid improvements. Digital hearing aids can be programmed and adjusted to match an individual's unique hearing loss. With digital programmable hearing aids, a computer chip converts incoming sounds into digital code, then analyzes and adjusts the amplification based on your specific needs as revealed by your audiogram. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. The result is sound that's more finely tuned to your hearing loss.

Additionally, open-fit hearing aids — which leave your ear at least partially open — have become popular for high-frequency hearing loss. Open-fit hearing aids allow low-frequency sound into the ear normally, so that only high-frequency sounds are amplified.

To find the best hearing aid for your situation, make an appointment with an audiologist to have your hearing tested and to discuss your communication needs. Together, you can decide which features will be most helpful for your hearing loss. Because it may take some time to get used to a hearing aid, most manufacturers allow a 30- to 60-day trial period during which you can "try out" the hearing aid and return it for a refund if you're not satisfied.

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