What is Hearing Loss?
Understanding Your Audiogram
Hearing loss affects 28 million Americans of all ages. Hearing loss is categorized by the degree of loss, mild, moderate, moderate-severe, severe, or profound. These categories are typically used to describe the amount of hearing loss in each frequency (pitch) region.
The tones used for testing hearing vary in frequency (Hertz or Hz) and intensity (decibels or dB). The softest level or intensity of sound that you respond to at each frequency (pitch) is referred to as a threshold. Threshold results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram.
Hearing levels, on the audiogram, between -10dB and 25dB are considered to be within the range of normal hearing. Someone with thresholds within normal range should be able to hear all speech sounds and most environmental sounds without much difficulty, especially when it is quiet.
Mild hearing loss range is 26-40dB. With hearing at this level a person will only hear some of the speech sounds when spoken at a normal conversational volume. Many of the speech sounds will be missed if whispered or if background noise is present.
A moderate hearing loss is within the range of 41-55dB. A hearing loss of this level will result in most speech sounds being missed when spoken at a normal conversational volume.
Moderately-severe hearing losses are from 56-70dB and result in the inability to hear ANY speech sounds when spoken at a normal conversational level. Many sounds will missed when shouted as well.
A severe hearing loss is from 71-90dB. Persons with this amount of hearing loss will not hear any speech sounds and few environmental sounds, without amplification.
A profound hearing loss is 91dB or more. At this level a person will not hear speech sounds and very little environmental sounds, even with traditional amplification.
Signs of hearing problems in children and adults:
Adults:
- Straining to understand conversations
- Problems hearing/understanding over the telephone
- Trouble following conversations when two or more people are talking at the same time
- Others complain that the television volume is up too high
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Others seem to mumble or not speak clearly
Children:
- Using “what?” or “huh?” frequently
- Intently watching the faces of speakers
- Sitting too close to the television
- Not being startled by loud sounds
- Lack or delay in speech and language development