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 people 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
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 with trouble hearing high frequencies. It’s the most prevalent form of hearing impairment.
Someone might report that they can hear soft sounds, but can’t figure out why hearing their children or grandchildren is challenging. Women have 165 to 255 Hz, while 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 jumbled.
Here are a number of other sounds that might be difficult to detect or hear clearly.
- Birds chirping
- Alarms
- Whistling
- High-pitched musical instruments like a flute
What causes high-frequency hearing loss?
This problem can be an element of age-related hearing loss. In addition, the tiny hair-like sensory cells in the inner ear can become damaged, and this makes it more difficult to hear high-pitched sounds.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds, including those experienced at concerts or in noisy workplaces or surroundings, can also add to the problem. Other risk factors include genetic makeups, certain medications like aspirin, chemo drugs, and antibiotics. Cardiovascular disease is also connected.
If children have high-frequency hearing loss, it can hamper their speech and language skill development. Older adults may face the danger of experiencing dementia, depression, and falls.
Treatments for high-frequency hearing loss
While high-frequency hearing loss is permanent, utilizing hearing aids can significantly improve the clarity of high-pitched sounds by increasing their volume, producing a sharper and more distinct auditory experience. An audiologist can configure your hearing aids to meet your individual requirements.
Attending a business meeting, talking on the phone, having meals, or chatting with your grandchild can be improved. Most contemporary hearing devices can link to your mobile phone and come equipped with directional microphones for accurate sound customization. Your wife will be pleased as an added benefit.
Schedule a consultation if you think you might be experiencing hearing difficulties at high frequencies.