If any of these hit home with you, it is very likely that you are experiencing high-pitched hearing loss. High-pitched hearing loss tends to take away our ability to hear softer, consonant sounds like th, s, f, and k, among others, while maintaining audibility for the louder, lower-pitched vowel sounds. So you could say, "The train is coming too soon," and I might think you said, "The rain is drumming on the roof." Sometimes it makes for a pretty funny conversation, but other times, it can be very frustrating.

If you're tired of asking people to repeat, or it feels like everyone in your life is mumbling, it's time for a hearing evaluation. There are some excellent hearing aids designed specifically for high-pitched hearing loss. They are comfortable, small, descrete, and work very well. A colleague and myself recently published a research study in The Hearing Journal that showed significantly more satisfaction with Open-Fitting hearing aids than with traditional fittings for individuals with high-pitched hearing loss. We can help you understand those voices that just are as clear as they used to be. Who knows, we might even cure your selective hearing.

By: David Gnewikow, Ph.D.