The Efficacy of Extended High-Frequency Audiometry in Early Detection of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Early detection of noise-induced hearing loss is important to prevent the extension of hearing loss to speech frequencies. This study was assessed the efficacy of high frequency audiometry for early detection of NIHL by a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis. A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Scopus, ISI web of science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Health star, and Ovid databases. Mean difference between hearing threshold in conventional and high frequencies was considered as the effect size. Pooled and stratum-specific MD was estimated. The number of 23 and 11 systematic review and meta-analysis studies were entered respectively throughout 3031 articles which initially searched. Since mean difference was higher in exposed subjects than non-exposed ones in most hearing frequencies, therefore, the effect size was higher in high frequencies, though not statistically significant. High frequency audiometry cannot be considered as a method for early detection of NIHL.