Every sound we hear—music, a loved one’s voice or birds chirping at LaFortune Park—has its own frequency (pitch) and volume. The human ear can pick up a wide range of these sounds, but there are limits. For example, a dog whistle produces a pitch so high that it’s beyond what we can detect.
When you develop hearing loss, those limits start to shift. Sounds that once were clear might feel muffled or disappear altogether. Let’s explore what a healthy human hearing range looks like and how hearing loss can alter what you hear.
Measuring Noise in Frequency and Volume
Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz). The average human frequency range is between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Sounds at the low end of the range sound rumbly, like thunder, while sounds at the high end are very high-pitched, like birds and whistles.
Volume is measured in decibels (dB). A few common decibel measurement examples include:
- 0 dB: a near-total silence
- 10 dB: steady breathing
- 60 dB: normal conversation
- 80-90 dB: blender
- 120 dB: ambulance siren
The volume you can hear will differ based on your degree of hearing loss and the frequency of the sound.
How Does Hearing Loss Affect My Hearing Range?
Hearing loss, whether from aging, noise exposure or other causes, changes the range of frequencies your ears can process. For example, young children are usually more able to hear higher-pitched sounds, but this high-frequency sensitivity tends to decline with age—a natural process known as presbycusis or age-related hearing loss. The greater your frequency loss, the louder a sound will need to be for you to hear it.
A hearing specialist uses pure tone testing to measure how well you hear various frequencies at different volume levels. The results are charted on an audiogram, which helps determine your hearing ability and guides the most appropriate treatment plan.
What Are My Hearing Loss Treatment Options?
Hearing aids are the most common treatment option for hearing loss. These advanced devices work by collecting sound, amplifying it and, if needed, adjusting the frequency to make speech and other sounds easier to understand.
For people with profound hearing loss who may not benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants offer another option, though not everyone is a suitable candidate for the surgery.
For more information on diagnosing or managing hearing loss, contact Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat – Yale Office today.