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 restating the “to-do” list. Obviously, we are joking; however, there are lots of reasons why it becomes hard to hear women’s and children’s voices. Let’s find out why, and what you can do about it.
Delving into the effects of hearing loss at high frequencies
Females and young people often have voices that are higher in frequency, and this can influence how clearly they are able to communicate for people who have difficulty hearing high frequencies. It’s the most prevalent type of hearing impairment.
Somebody may report that they can hear soft sounds, but can’t understand why hearing their children or grandchildren is challenging. The typical frequency range for women is between 165 and 255 Hz, while for men it is between 85 and 180 Hz.
Difficulty in hearing certain consonants in speech, such as 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 might be hard to detect or hear clearly.
- Birds chirping
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-frequency musical instruments like a flute
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss might include this hearing problem. Moreover, damage to the small, 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 factors that contribute to risk include heredity, particular drugs including aspirin, chemotherapy medications, and antibiotics. Cardiovascular disease is also connected.
If kids have high-frequency hearing loss, it can hamper their speech and language skill development. For older adults, it can include the risk of dementia, depression, and injury, causing falls.
Dealing with hearing loss in the higher frequencies
There is no cure for high-frequency hearing loss, but getting hearing aids helps amplify high-pitched sounds, making them clearer and crisper. An audiologist can configure your hearing aids to meet your individual needs.
Attending 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 precise sound adjustment. As a perk, you’ll make your wife happy.
Schedule a consultation if you think you might be experiencing hearing issues at high frequencies.