Hearing loss impacts on speech intelligibility and effective hearing in background noise because it ____________ .

Hearing loss impacts speech intelligibility and effective hearing in background noise due to several intertwined factors that contribute to the overall difficulty in processing sounds.

Widening the ear's critical bands at affected frequencies means that with hearing loss, the ability to distinguish between different sound frequencies diminishes. Critical bands refer to the range of frequencies over which sound waves can interfere with one another in hearing perception. When these bands widen due to hearing loss, it becomes more challenging to differentiate between speech sounds and background noise, which directly affects speech intelligibility and clarity.

Abnormal growth in loudness, also known as recruitment, can occur in individuals with certain types of hearing loss, particularly sensorineural hearing loss. This phenomenon results in sounds being perceived as much louder than normal at certain frequencies, which can lead to a distorted perception of speech and difficulty understanding conversation amidst noise.

Decreased audibility is a fundamental aspect of hearing loss. When certain frequencies are less audible, crucial components of speech sounds like consonants—important for clarity—can fall below the listener's threshold of hearing. This lack of audibility hampers the ability to understand spoken language, especially in environments with competing sounds.

Considering these factors, selecting "All the above" encompasses the comprehensive ways in which hearing