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

Michaela Škerková, Martina Kovalová and Eva Mrázková
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Michaela Škerková: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Martina Kovalová: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Eva Mrázková: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-13

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.

Keywords: audiometry; high-frequency audiometry (HFA); hearing loss; hearing test; hearing threshold; noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL); age-related hearing loss; occupational noise; recreational noise; noise exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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