Which of the following is a common audiogram finding in individuals with noise-induced hearing loss?

In cases of noise-induced hearing loss, a notable and common finding on an audiogram is indeed a notch at 4000 Hz. This characteristic pattern reflects the impact of excessive noise exposure, which primarily affects the hair cells in the cochlea associated with higher frequencies.

The 4000 Hz notch is significant because it typically shows a drop in hearing sensitivity at that frequency, creating a distinct shape in the audiogram that can help differentiate noise-induced hearing loss from other types. Such a pattern is consistent with the way the auditory system responds to damaging levels of noise, often linked to occupational or recreational activities that involve loud sounds.

In contrast, other patterns like a flat loss across frequencies might suggest a different etiology of hearing loss, such as aging or genetic factors, rather than specific noise exposure. Low-frequency loss is not typical of noise-induced hearing loss, as it usually spares lower frequencies while affecting the higher ones primarily. High-frequency gain would indicate an improvement in hearing at higher frequencies, which is the opposite of what is observed in noise-induced hearing loss.