Neuroscience and Psychiatry: Open Access

Hearing Loss Innovations

Human hearing extends in frequency from 20 to twenty, 000 Hz, and in intensity from 0 dB to 120 dB HL or more. 0 dB doesn't represent absence of sound, but rather the softest sound a mean unimpaired human ear can hear; some people can hear right down to −5 or maybe −10 dB. Sound is usually uncomfortably loud above 90 dB and 115 dB represents the edge of pain. The ear doesn't hear all frequencies equally well: hearing sensitivity peaks around 3000 Hz. There are many qualities of human hearing besides frequency range and intensity that can't easily be measured quantitatively. However, for several practical purposes, normal hearing is defined by a frequency versus intensity graph, or audiogram, charting sensitivity thresholds of hearing at defined frequencies. Due to the cumulative impact aged and exposure to noise and other acoustic insults, 'typical' hearing might not be normal. Hearing loss is an increasing concern especially in aging populations, the prevalence of deafness increase about two-fold for every decade increase in age after age 40. While the secular trend might decrease individual level risk of developing deafness, the prevalence of deafness is predicted to rise thanks to the aging population within the US. Another concern about aging process is cognitive decline, which can reach mild cognitive impairment and eventually dementia.

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