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. That’s a joke, but it is fairly common for people to struggle to hear the voices of women and children. Let’s find out why, and what you can do about it.
Comprehending high-frequency hearing loss
Women and children tend to have higher-pitched voices, which can impact their speech clarity for anyone with high-frequency hearing loss. It’s the most prevalent form of hearing impairment.
A person may notice they can pick up on quiet 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 specific consonants in speech, like t, th, ch, soft c, s, sh, f, and k, as a result of high-frequency hearing loss can lead to unclear speech.
Here are a few other sounds that might be difficult to detect or hear clearly.
- Birds chirping
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-frequency musical instruments like a flute
What are the underlying factors that contribute to hearing loss at higher sound frequencies?
This problem is often part of age-related hearing loss. In addition, the tiny hair-like sensory cells in the inner ear may become damaged, and this makes it more difficult to hear high-pitched sounds.
If you have attended loud concerts and had excessive noise exposure from work or the environment, it can be a factor. Other risk factors include genetics, certain medications like aspirin, chemo drugs, and antibiotics. Cardiovascular disease is also related.
High-frequency hearing loss in children may hinder the development of their speech and language skills. Older people may face the danger of experiencing dementia, depression, and falls.
Treatments for high-frequency hearing loss
While high-frequency hearing loss is permanent, using hearing aids can substantially improve the clarity of high-pitched sounds by boosting their volume, resulting in a sharper and more distinct auditory experience. An audiologist can configure your hearing aids to meet your specific requirements.
An improved experience can be achieved in a business meeting, making phone calls, dining, or engaging in conversations with your grandchild. 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 benefit.
Schedule an appointment if you think you have high-frequency hearing loss.