The average person starts losing their hearing in early adulthood. There are a number of causes for hearing loss, but one of the first signs of hearing loss begins with difficulty processing high-frequency sounds.
Why High-Frequency Hearing Loss?
Our ability to hear is contingent upon sound waves (air vibrations) stimulating hair cells in the inner ear. Hair cells are able to convert these vibrations into electrical impulses, which are sent through the auditory nerve to the brain.
The first signs of hearing loss begin as we age when some of these hair cells begin to degenerate; specifically, those that are closest to the outer ear – responsible for processing higher frequency sounds. Here are some of the sounds that individuals with normal frequency hearing loss will miss first:
1. Rice Krispies in Milk
2. A Ticking Clock
3. Falling Rain
4. Footsteps in the Snow
5. A Purring Cat
6. Rustling Leaves
7. Grasshoppers
8. Water Dripping
9. A Stream
10. A Shower
11. Voices of Children
12. Ocean Waves
13. Birds Chirping
Although it is normal for adults to lose the ability to process high-frequency sounds, the gradual decline in one’s hearing can turn from a minor annoyance to a serious problem over the course of a decade.
Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse hearing loss. However, Audicus is here to help keep your hearing at its highest with awareness of the first signs of hearing loss. To learn more about hearing loss and high-frequency hearing loss, check out the Audicus Guide to Hearing or go find out about our discreet hearing aids.
Sources: Audicus, www.hear-it.org, National Insitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders