No this is not another dad joke but a very useful tool called a speech banana!
When we test your hearing using pure-tone audiometry, we are determining the quietest level of sound you can hear across a range of frequencies. To visually represent the results we plot them on an audiogram.
The horizontal axis shows the frequency, also referred to as the tone or pitch. This starts with the lowest frequencies on the left and increases in pitch as you go right. Measured in Hertz (Hz), frequencies go from 250 to 8,000 Hz.
The vertical axis shows the loudness (or intensity) of what you could hear. This starts with the most quiet levels at the top and increases in loudness as you go down. Measured in decibels (dB), these go from -10 to 120 dB. 0dB is the softest sound the average person can hear.
So what does this have to do with speech and bananas?
We can hear across a wide range of frequencies, but speech sounds are almost all in the 250 to 5,000 Hz region. Vowels (A, E, I, O, U) are lower frequency sounds and tend to be louder. Consonant (H, G, S, F) and fricative sounds (CH, SH, TH) are in the higher frequencies and are quieter and more subtle.
When we plot these on an audiogram, the shape they make resembles a banana hence the name. It’s more obvious when coloured yellow too!
Combined with your hearing test results, the speech banana is an a-peeling tool. It shows how well you hear and what speech sounds you are currently struggling with or missing out on completely. It also helps your family and loved ones understand why you may struggle to hear some words but not others.
What does the speech banana look like?
Here is an example of an audiogram showing a typical age-related hearing loss. With this type of loss, higher frequencies are affected and as as they play an essential role in distinguishing words, it is very easy for you to misunderstand what is being said. As you can see, even a mild hearing loss can impact your ability to hear what’s being said. If you have a moderate hearing loss then following the conversation becomes even harder.
To hear speech clearly again, and all the other important sounds in your life, our fully qualified Audiologists can help. We’ll find the right hearing aids for you from world leading manufacturers such as Starkey and Oticon. We even offer a free trial so you can be sure they are the perfect fit for your needs, lifestyle and budget.
So don’t slip up when you’re trying to follow the conversation. If you’re not sure if someone said “cat” or “hat” or “chair” or “share” then get in contact to arrange a free hearing test with us. You’d be bananas not too.
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This post was written by Michelle Viney
