Why is it more difficult to hear women’s and children’s voices? 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 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.
Understanding high-frequency hearing loss
Women and children have a tendency to have higher-pitched voices, which can affect their speech clarity for anyone with high-frequency hearing loss. It is the most prevalent kind of hearing loss.
A person may notice they can pick up on faint noises, yet struggle to hear what their kids or grandkids are saying to them. Women have 165 to 255 Hz, while men have 85 to 180 Hz.
Difficulty in hearing certain consonants in speech, like t, th, ch, soft c, s, sh, f, and k, as a result of high-frequency hearing loss can result in unclear speech.
Here are a few other sounds that may be hard to detect or hear clearly.
- Chirping birds
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-pitched musical instruments like a flute
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
This problem 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 result in 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. Other risk factors include genetics, certain medications like aspirin, chemo drugs, and antibiotics. Heart disease is connected as well.
If kids 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.
Treatments for high-frequency hearing loss
While high-frequency hearing loss is irreversible, using 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 calibrate your hearing aids at the best setting for you.
Participating in a business meeting, using the phone, having meals, or talking with your grandchild can be enhanced. Many hearing aids can be connected to your smartphone and have directional microphones that allow for accurate sound adjustment. Your wife will be pleased as an added advantage.
Set up a consultation if you think you might be experiencing hearing difficulties at high frequencies.
