Why are women and children sometimes more challenging to hear than men? As proof, perhaps you have noticed that some men claim they can’t hear their wives’ voices when they are repeating the “to-do” list. That’s a joke, but it is fairly common for people to struggle to hear the voices of women and children. Let’s find out why, and what you can do about it.
Exploring the impacts of hearing loss at high frequencies
Females and young individuals frequently have voices that are higher in frequency, and this can influence how clearly they are able to communicate for people who have trouble hearing high frequencies. It is the most common type of hearing loss.
Someone may report that they can hear soft sounds, but can’t figure out why hearing their children or grandchildren is difficult. The typical frequency range for women is between 165 and 255 Hz, while for men it is between 85 and 180 Hz.
High-frequency hearing loss can make it difficult to hear consonants in speech, such as t, th, ch, soft c, s, sh, f, and k, which cause speech to sound muddled.
Here are a few other sounds that may be hard to detect or hear clearly.
- Birds chirping
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-frequency musical instruments like a flute
What are the intrinsic factors that contribute to hearing loss at higher sound pitches?
Age-related hearing loss might include this hearing problem. What’s more, damage to the tiny, hair-like sensory cells located in the inner ear can lead to increased difficulty in perceiving high-frequency sounds.
If you have attended loud concerts and had substantial noise exposure from work or the environment, it can play a part. Other factors that increase risk include heredity, specific medicines including aspirin, chemotherapy medications, and antibiotics. Heart disease is connected as well.
If children have high-frequency hearing loss, it can impede their speech and language skill development. Older people could face the danger of experiencing dementia, depression, and falls.
Dealing with hearing loss in the higher frequencies
There is no cure for high-frequency hearing loss, but acquiring hearing aids helps boost high-pitched sounds, making them clearer and crisper. A hearing specialist can set your hearing aids at the best setting for you.
An improved experience can be achieved in a business meeting, making phone calls, dining, or engaging in conversations with your grandchild. Most modern hearing devices can stream to your mobile phone and come outfitted with directional microphones for accurate sound personalization. Your wife will be pleased as an added benefit.
Schedule an appointment if you suspect you have high-frequency hearing loss.