Extended high-frequency (9-20 kHz) audiometry reference thresholds in 645 healthy subjects

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Human Hearing Physiology

Background:

• Understanding human hearing thresholds across the full spectrum is crucial for audiological assessments.
• Existing data on extended high-frequencies (8-20 kHz) requires standardization for reliable comparisons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference hearing thresholds for the extended human hearing range (0.125–20 kHz).
• To compare extended high-frequency (8–20 kHz) hearing thresholds with existing data.
• To explore the feasibility of establishing new international standards for hearing thresholds.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 645 otologically healthy individuals aged 5–90 years.
• Measurement of pure-tone hearing thresholds across conventional and extended high-frequencies.
• Comparative analysis of newly obtained thresholds with previously published data.

Main Results:

• Hearing thresholds increased with frequency and age.
• Females exhibited lower hearing thresholds than males between 20–69 years, particularly at 12.5 and 16 kHz.
• The obtained threshold values were comparable to those from previous studies.

Conclusions:

• Hearing thresholds show consistency across different studies and populations.
• The findings support the establishment of international standard thresholds for human hearing.
• Standardized thresholds will enhance the reliability of audiological evaluations and comparisons.