Extra-High Frequency Hearing Loss and Hyperlipidemia

Abstract
Auditory thresholds in the extra-high frequency (EHF) range (10-18 kHz) were determined for twenty normal and twenty hyperlipidemic subjects. Subjects all passed a standard frequency auditory screening; all were otologically normal; all were aged between 20 and 50 years; none had a positive history of noise exposure. Modest, although significant, relationships were found between serum lipid levels and EHF acuity. Right ear thresholds and thresholds at 14 kHz showed the larger differences between the normals and hyperlipidemics