The human hearing range refers to the range of frequencies that a typical human ear can detect, and it varies depending on the age of the individual. Generally, the hearing range of a healthy young adult is from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
However, as people age, their hearing ability typically declines. This is due to a combination of factors, including natural changes in the ear, exposure to loud noise, and other medical conditions. The loss of hearing ability usually begins in the high-frequency range, with sounds above 10,000 Hz becoming more difficult to hear. This is often referred to as age-related hearing loss or presbycusis.
Age-related hearing loss is a gradual and progressive condition, and its effects can vary depending on the individual. In some cases, people may have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments. They may also experience tinnitus, which is a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that is not caused by an external source. Some people may also have difficulty hearing certain musical notes or sounds.
For music enthusiasts, there are several tweaks we can make to audio systems to compensate for hearing loss.
Increase Volume: People with hearing loss may need to turn up the volume on their audio systems in order to hear the music or other audio content. However, it's important to be cautious about increasing the volume too much, as this can lead to further damage to the ears. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States set permissible exposure limits for noise in the workplace, with a time-weighted average of 85 decibels (dB) over an 8-hour workday considered the maximum safe level.
Room Treatment: By utilizing room treatment, you can reduce excess audio interference (cancelation) at various ranges of the audio spectrum, enhancing the audio system's sound reproduction and increasing clarity.
Use Equalization: Many audio systems have equalizers that allow users to adjust the frequency response of the system. Audiophiles with hearing loss may benefit from using an equalizer to boost the frequencies they have difficulty hearing.
Use Compression: Some audio systems have compression options that can help to even out the volume levels of different parts of the audio content. This can help audiophiles with hearing loss to hear more of the content, particularly if they have trouble with soft sounds.