What is the correct interpretation of an audiogram with a downward slope?

A downward sloping audiogram indicates that the hearing sensitivity decreases as the frequency increases. This means that while a person may have relatively good hearing in the lower frequencies, their ability to hear higher frequencies is compromised, resulting in reduced hearing sensitivity in that range. Such a pattern is often seen in various types of hearing loss, particularly age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing damage, where individuals struggle more to perceive higher-pitched sounds, such as speech consonants.

Normal hearing across all frequencies would present as a flat line on the audiogram, while improving hearing sensitivity at higher frequencies would show a rising slope. Worsening hearing sensitivity at lower frequencies would indicate an upward slope, which is not the case with a downward slope. Understanding these patterns in audiograms is crucial for diagnosis and management in audiology.