Why are women and children sometimes harder to hear than men? As proof, maybe 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 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 impact their speech clarity for anyone with high-frequency hearing loss. It’s the most prevalent type of hearing impairment.
A person might observe 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, whereas men have 85 to 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.
- Chirping birds
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-pitched musical instruments like a flute
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss may 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 have attended loud concerts and had substantial noise exposure from work or the environment, it can be a factor. Additional factors that increase risk include heredity, specific drugs including aspirin, chemotherapy medications, and antibiotics. Heart disease is related as well.
If children have high-frequency hearing loss, it can hamper their speech and language skill development. For older people, it can include the risk 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 significantly improve the clarity of high-pitched sounds by increasing their volume, resulting in a sharper and more distinct auditory experience. An audiologist can program your hearing aids to meet your specific requirements.
An enhanced experience can be attained in a business meeting, making phone calls, dining, or talking with your grandchild. Many hearing aids can be connected to your smartphone and have directional microphones that allow for accurate sound adjustment. As a bonus , you’ll make your wife happy.
Schedule an appointment if you suspect you have high-frequency hearing loss.