The average healthy young person with normal hearing can typically hear sounds in the range from 20 to 20,000Hz. Same person in their 30’s may only be able to hear up to 16,000Hz, by their 50’s to 12,000Hz. This is a normal function of aging, and these changes go without notice, typically.
Average conversational speech spans from around 250 to 2000Hz for vowels and up to 4000Hz for consonants. As we age and start to lose hearing in those high frequencies, we start to have difficulty understanding conversations in more challenging environments, such as groups or noisy restaurants.
Early symptoms of hearing loss may be difficulty understanding in noisy places (did you say thin or fin?), voices sounding muffled or people are mumbling, turning the volume up on the TV, frequently asking for repetition, or ringing or noises in your ears.
If you or those around you are noticing any of these symptoms, the place to start is a visit to an audiologist. We will review your history, look in your ears to see if you might have wax, and then test your hearing. Everyone should have a baseline done so call Gardner Audiology today to schedule your appointment at one of our 9 locations. Call 800-277-1182 or email info@gardneraudiology.com.
