What does hearing sensitivity refer to?

Hearing sensitivity specifically refers to the ability to perceive sounds at various frequencies and volumes, which is commonly described in terms of differences in pitch and loudness. It is linked to the physical thresholds of hearing, indicating how well a person can detect sounds across a range of frequencies. This aspect is crucial for understanding the nuances of sound, such as whether a tone is high or low in pitch or soft versus loud, which are fundamental components of auditory perception.

While other choices describe important auditory processes, they do not address the core concept of hearing sensitivity directly. The ability to distinguish speech in noise is more about cognitive processing and auditory discrimination in challenging listening environments. Likewise, interpreting sounds involves higher-level cognitive functions that go beyond mere sensitivity and delve into comprehension and interpretation. Finally, auditory memory relates to how well a person can retain and recall sounds over time, which is distinctly separate from the initial sensitivity to sound itself.