The sounds we use when we speak have frequencies (pitch) and decibels (loudness). An audiogram can show the frequencies at which speech sounds are heard. When speech sounds are shown on a graph, they can be seen in a banana-shaped pattern. This is why it is called a "speech banana". Almost all phonemes fall within the range of speech bananas on an audiogram.

People with good hearing can hear many sounds outside the speech banana, such as high-frequency birds chirping or low-frequency bass drum sounds. However, hearing loss often affects the area of the speech banana, causing individuals to have difficulty hearing and understanding speech.

The speech banana appears on an audiogram between the frequencies of 250 Hz and 8000 Hz, visualizing how average speech sounds are distributed within a hearing level range of approximately 20 dB HL to 50 dB HL. This area spans from high-frequency consonants (e.g., /s/, /f/, /th/) to low-frequency vowels (e.g., /a/, /o/, /u/). Since nearly all phonemes fall within this region, hearing loss affecting this area can lead to significant communication difficulties.

HOW DOES THE SPEECH BANANA HELP US?

For most people, hearing loss progresses very slightly (often so slowly and mildly that you don't even notice it). Hearing loss sometimes only affects certain frequency ranges. You may lose the ability to hear very high-pitched or very low sounds, but your ability to hear mid-pitched sounds may be fine. If your hearing loss is in the speech banana area, you will find it difficult to communicate. You can also monitor your hearing loss through the speech banana. 📞 If you would like professional support with hearing loss in Cyprus, contact us at our Iskele Hearing Center. Contact us for more information or an appointment.