Understanding hearing loss: Part 2
|
Andrew Stewart
|
Apr 15, 2016
Last week we discussed levels of hearing. For a reminder see the table below.
Degree of hearing loss | (dB HL) |
Normal | –10 to 25 |
Mild | 26 to 40 |
Moderate | 41 to 55 |
Moderately severe | 56 to 70 |
Severe | 71 to 90 |
Profound | 91+ |
Each level of hearing has different consequences for our hearing ability. Let's explore these in more detail.
Mild hearing loss:
Someone in the mild range will have difficulty hearing soft sounds and they may miss some speech in noisy environments.
Moderate to moderately-severe hearing loss:
People in this range may not hear soft and moderately loud sounds. Normal human speech is roughly in this range so they may have difficulty if the person they are listening to does not make an effort to speak up. They will also find it very hard to follow conversation when there is background noise present.
Severe hearing loss:
In this range people may only hear very loud sounds. Without hearing technology communication can be very difficult to impossible if there is background noise present.
Profound:
At this level only very loud sounds are heard. Speech at any level cannot be heard without the use of hearing technology. With the use of hearing technology spoken communication is possible with some limitations.
This is a brief overview of the different levels of hearing and their effects. If you have questions or concerns about your hearing please book an appointment at one of our three convenient locations. Remember, routine hearing checks are an essential part of your overall health maintenance.
Lower Sackville: 902-252-3004
Halifax: 902-423-7734
Cole Harbour: 902-406-4327
