What are the "speech frequencies" typically tested during hearing assessment?

The range of "speech frequencies" typically tested during hearing assessments is primarily considered to be from 500 Hz to 4000 Hz. This is because these frequencies encompass the critical sounds that are essential for understanding speech. Most of the phonetic components of human speech, including consonants and vowels, lie within this frequency range, making it important for audiologists to evaluate hearing sensitivity in this area.

Testing in this frequency range allows for the identification of hearing loss that may affect communication abilities. Frequencies below 500 Hz are generally associated more with lower frequency sounds and fullness of voice, while frequencies above 4000 Hz often correspond to higher frequencies that are less crucial for speech intelligibility but important for understanding clarity of sounds. Thus, assessing hearing in the 500 Hz to 4000 Hz range is vital for diagnosing potential issues related to speech perception and communication effectiveness.