Speech (soft to loud) is the most important sound that we hear every day. Speech is made up of vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and consonants (for example, s, t, n, d, f, ch). Vowel sounds are lower in pitch and louder in volume. Consonant sounds are higher in pitch and softer in volume (especially female voices).
All types of hearing loss affect an individuals’ ability to hear and understand conversational sounds. Sensorineural Hearing loss often initially affects those higher pitched consonant sounds. These sounds (s, f, v, sh, th, ch) play a key role in distinguishing words and understanding speech clearly. Many individuals with hearing loss will report: “I hear people talking but I don’t understand what is being said.”
Warning signs of hearing loss
If you, family members, friends, or loved ones have experienced any of the following, you should have your hearing tested by a hearing healthcare professional:
- Can hear but do not understand
- Have difficulty hearing in restaurants and/or places of worship
- Frequently ask people to repeat themselves
- Look at people’s faces to assist in understanding conversations
- Turn up the volume of the TV and/or radio
- Feel that everyone mumbles or doesn’t speak clearly
- For more information of how to access hearing services including government funded free hearing services please visit: