Which frequency range is critical for understanding speech?

The frequency range that is critical for understanding speech is from 250 to 4,000 Hz. This range encompasses the majority of the frequencies that carry the fundamental components of speech sounds and the consonant-vowel sounds that are essential for language comprehension.

Human speech predominantly falls within this frequency range, with vowels generally situated between 250 and 900 Hz and important consonant sounds typically occurring at frequencies higher than 1,000 Hz but within the upper limit of 4,000 Hz. Sounds in this band are crucial for distinguishing between different words and meanings, making it vital for effective communication.

Understanding speech primarily within this specified range allows for clarity and recognition of various phonetic elements, which is why it is considered critical for auditory processing. Frequencies outside of this range, such as those in the other options, may contain important acoustic information but do not hold the primary significance for speech intelligibility.