If you’re finding it harder to hear ladies voices or children’s voices than to hear male voices, it could be an indication that you’ve experienced some degree of high-frequency hearing loss. Children’s and women’s voices have a higher frequency than men’s voices – 165 to 255 Hertz, as opposed to 85 to 180 Hz for men. In addition, women’s and children’s voices generally have a lower amplitude (meaning, they are softer or less loud), so you might hear them at a different volume than men’s voices. The way to find out for sure is to make an appointment with one of our specialists and allow them to test your hearing to see what the problem may be.
High-frequency hearing loss is the most common among all forms of hearing loss. There are many possible causes; among the possibilities are aging, exposure to loud noises, certain diseases and certain drugs. But whatever the cause, the important thing is that as a result of technological advances, hearing loss can be treated.
One effective option involves the fitting of digital hearing aids, whose sophisticated electronics can be programmed to respond differently to sounds at different frequencies. For a person suffering from high-frequency hearing loss, for example, a technician could program the digital hearing aid to raise the volume of high-pitched sounds, while not raising the volume of low-pitched sounds as much. Another treatment option is the use of open-fit hearing aids, which leave your ear canal open or partially open, so that low-frequency and mid-frequency sounds enter the ear normally, and only the high-frequency sounds are amplified. Cochlear implants provide a third option for treating high-frequency hearing loss. An implant is a much more expensive and invasive option requiring minor surgery, but it may be the best option in cases of nerve deafness or extreme industrial deafness.
No matter which option you ultimately choose, the first step is always the same. Get a comprehensive exam from a qualified hearing care professional. In some cases, for example, high-frequency hearing loss has been caused by nothing more than a buildup of ear wax, which can be cleared up without the need for any type of hearing aid. So the best “first step” in dealing with your hearing problem is to make an appointment and allow us to determine the real nature of the problem.