Measuring Hearing Loss

Two people may both suffer from hearing loss, but that does not necessarily mean they experience the world in the same way. Hearing impairments vary in their severity, the range of tones affected, perceived sound clarity, and so on. Fortunately, hearing aids are available for a variety of different hearing conditions.

If you are suffering from hearing impairment, a qualified audiologist can help you determine the extent of the problem and whether or not a hearing aid would help. To learn about analog and digital hearing aids that would fit your lifestyle, call HearingPlanet at 1-800-432-7669.

The Levels of Hearing Loss

The severity of a person?s hearing loss is usually determined by testing the range of sounds he or she can hear based on decibels (loudness) and frequencies (pitch). Degrees of hearing loss are generally ranked based on the lowest volume that a person can hear; some graphs, called audiograms, can chart both volume and pitch.

Different organizations define the levels of hearing loss a little differently. A typical example comes from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:

• Normal hearing: -10 to 15 dB
• Slight hearing loss: 16 to 25 dB
• Mild hearing loss: 26 to 40 dB
• Moderate hearing loss: 41 to 55 dB
• Moderate/Severe hearing loss: 56 to 70 dB
• Severe hearing loss: 70 to 90 dB
• Profound hearing loss: 91+ dB

The ranges listed above refer to the lowest volumes of sound that a person is able to hear based on a normal hearing range. For example, being able to hear -10 dB means that your hearing is actually better than most people?s, since you can hear a lower volume than average. For people with slight hearing loss, a sound must be 16 to 25 dB above the average threshold in order to be audible, and so on.

It is important to know the degree of a person?s hearing loss, because different hearing aids and other devices are best suited to different levels of impairment. Our hearing aid consultants can help you find the right technology for your condition and lifestyle.

Contact Us

HearingPlanet provides efficient and courteous assistance to people looking for the right hearing aid. Contact us today at 1-800-432-7669 for the assistance you need.