Why are women and children sometimes harder to hear than men? Perhaps you have observed 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 fairly common for individuals to struggle to hear the voices of women and children. Let’s figure out why, and what you can do about it.
Comprehending high-frequency hearing loss
Females and young individuals often have voices that are higher in pitch, and this can impact how clearly they are able to communicate for people who have difficulty hearing high frequencies. It’s the most prevalent form of hearing impairment.
A person might observe they can pick up on faint noises, yet struggle to make out what their kids or grandkids are saying to them. The normal 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, like t, th, ch, soft c, s, sh, f, and k, due to high-frequency hearing loss can lead to unclear speech.
Here are a number of other sounds that might be difficult to detect or hear clearly.
- Chirping birds
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-pitched 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 found in the inner ear can lead to increased trouble in perceiving high-frequency sounds.
If you frequented loud concerts and had excessive noise exposure from work or the environment, it can be a factor. Other risk factors include genetic makeups, certain medications like aspirin, chemo drugs, and antibiotics. Heart disease is connected as well.
If children have high-frequency hearing loss, it can impede their speech and language skill development. For older people, it can include the danger 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. A hearing specialist can calibrate your hearing aids at the best setting for you.
Participating in a business meeting, talking on 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 enable precise sound adjustment. Your wife will be pleased as an added benefit.
Book an appointment if you think you have high-frequency hearing loss.