We talk about it frequently in blogs about hearing, sound and hearing protection: hertz. Or kilohertz. Sometimes megahertz. And in the tech world, even gigahertz. But what exactly do these units mean? And what can you do with them if you want to understand more about sound, hearing loss or earplugs?
In this blog, we explain it. Not a dry science lesson, but a clear explanation in plain human language. Because believe us: understanding these terms makes your life as a listener, music lover or festival-goer just a little bit easier.
What is Hertz (Hz)?
Hertz (abbreviated Hz) is a unit with which you measure frequency. In other words, the number of vibrations per second. Thus, one Hertz means one vibration per second.
Sound consists of vibrations in the air that your ears pick up. The more vibrations per second, the higher the tone sounds. And the fewer vibrations per second, the lower.
A few examples:
- 20 Hz: which is an extremely low hum that you feel rather than hear
- 440 Hz: which is the tone A, used to tune instruments
- 1000 Hz: which is a center frequency common in speech
- 15,000 Hz: that is a very high squeak, audible to young people but often no longer audible to people over 50
Human hearing can basically perceive sound between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. At least, if your ears are still completely fresh and undamaged. In practice, after the age of 30, many people can no longer hear above 16,000 Hz.
What is kilohertz (kHz)?
Kilohertz literally means one thousand Hertz. So 1 kHz = 1,000 Hz.
The kHz unit is mainly used to indicate higher frequencies, such as those of speech, music and hearing tests. For example, if you are in a hearing test, you will hear beeps at various frequencies between 0.25 kHz and 8 kHz. In fact, this is the main area for speech understanding and general communication.
What you need to know:
- Between 0.5 and 4 kHz lies the main speech area
- Frequent hearing damage from noise is often between 3 and 6 kHz
- Music lovers and sound people use kHz to determine tonal balance
The older you get (or the more you have exposed your ears to noise), the more sensitivity you lose in the higher kHz region.
What is megahertz (MHz)?
Megahertz means million Hertz. So 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz.
That’s way too high to hear with the human ear. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Megahertz plays a role mostly in technology, wireless links and communications equipment.
A few examples:
- FM radio: between 88 and 108 MHz
- Wireless hearing aids: working with radio signals in MHz
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use signals in MHz and GHz
So although you don’t “hear” MHz, it does determine whether your hearing aid works properly, your wireless microphone connects or your phone can stream clear audio.
What is Gigahertz (GHz)?
Gigahertz is a step further: one billion vibrations per second. 1 GHz = 1,000 MHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz.
Again, you don’t hear these vibrations. But you do use them.
For example:
- Wi-Fi signals (such as 5 GHz networks)
- Bluetooth signals for your wireless earbuds or hearing aid
- Processors in computers and smartphones (e.g., 2.4 GHz or 3.6 GHz)
So when your hearing aid connects to your phone, you stream music or you have an alarm clock app that wakes up your hearing aid: GHz plays a big role in the background.
What can you do with that knowledge?
You may be thinking: nice those units, but what’s in it for me? Well, quite a lot. Once you understand what those frequencies mean, you can better deal with hearing loss, hearing protection and technology.
A few practical advantages:
1. You understand why certain tones are hard to hear
Do you have trouble with hissing sounds or children’s voices? Chances are you hear less well in the 4-6 kHz range.
2. You can choose hearing protection in a more targeted way
Earplugs for music attenuate evenly across all kHz. But foam plugs actually push out high notes more, making voices unclear. Knowing what your ears need makes it easier to choose the right protection.
3. You understand your tinnitus better
Tinnitus often sounds like a beep of, say, 6 or 8 kHz. That is usually exactly the frequency range in which your hearing has been damaged. It clarifies why hearing loss and tinnitus often go together.
4. You know what you’re setting
Whether you’re on the equalizer of your music app or adjusting your hearing aid: you know what happens when you adjust a frequency band.
5. You’ll make better choices with tech
Did you know that some wireless devices operate at 2.4 GHz and others at 5 GHz? If you experience a lot of interference with your wireless hearing aid or streaming system, it can help to understand which frequency range your Wi-Fi and devices operate in.
Frequency ranges and hearing loss
An audiogram (the chart of your hearing test) shows exactly in which frequencies your hearing is good, and where it is deteriorating. Often the higher frequencies are affected first, especially with noise damage or age-related hearing loss.
Therefore, modern hearing aids are often optimized for speech understanding around 2-4 kHz, with additional amplification in higher regions as needed.
Finally, protect your entire frequency range
Every frequency you lose is one less piece of sound experience. From the soft rustle of leaves (high Hz) to the warm growl of a double bass (low Hz). That’s why hearing protection is so important, especially at concerts, motorsports, festivals or loud jobs.
Are you looking for good hearing protection that protects your ears without distorting the sound? Or just tech that helps you keep hearing what you’re missing? Check out our webshop or contact us. We are happy to think along with you.
Because whether it’s 440 Hz or 5 GHz: when it hits your hearing, we want you to hear it right.
