Why is it harder to hear women’s and children’s voices? Maybe you have noticed that some men claim they are unable to hear their wives talking when they are listing tasks to be done. That’s a joke, but it is rather common for individuals to struggle to hear the voices of women and children. Let’s find out why, and what you can do about it.
Delving into the effects of hearing loss at high frequencies
Women and children have a tendency to have higher-pitched voices, which can affect their speech clarity for anybody with high-frequency hearing loss. It is the most prevalent kind of hearing loss.
A person might notice they can pick up on quiet noises, yet struggle to make out what their kids or grandkids are saying to them. Women have 165 to 255 Hz, whereas men have 85 to 180 Hz.
High-frequency hearing loss can make it harder to hear consonants in speech, such as t, th, ch, soft c, s, sh, f, and k, which cause speech to sound jumbled.
Here are a few other sounds that might be hard to detect or hear clearly.
- Chirping birds
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-frequency musical instruments like a flute
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
This issue is often an element of age-related hearing loss. What’s more, damage to the tiny, hair-like sensory cells located in the inner ear can lead to increased trouble 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. Additional factors that contribute to risk include heredity, specific drugs including aspirin, chemotherapy medications, and antibiotics. Cardiovascular disease is related as well.
High-frequency hearing loss in children may hinder the development of their speech and language skills. For older adults, it can include the danger of dementia, depression, and injury, causing falls.
Dealing with hearing loss in the higher frequencies
While high-frequency hearing loss is irreversible, utilizing hearing aids can considerably improve the clarity of high-pitched sounds by increasing their volume, resulting in a sharper and more distinct auditory experience. A hearing specialist can set your hearing aids at the best setting for you.
Participating in a business meeting, talking on the phone, having meals, or chatting with your grandchild can be enhanced. Many hearing aids can be connected to your smartphone and have directional microphones that enable accurate sound adjustment. Your wife will be pleased as an added benefit.
Schedule an appointment if you think you have high-frequency hearing loss.
