If auditory loss were a binary condition, there would scarcely be a need for a hearing center to exist. One day, you wake up and you can no longer hear. That's that and there's little reason to conduct further evaluation. But auditory loss isn't like that at all. There are many ranges and degrees of the condition. Someone with the mildest of loss may have little to no use for a listening aid, while those with profound deafness may not either, for different reasons. Since there is a broad spectrum, it is useful to recognize the degrees and how they relate to real world practicality.
Mild Auditory Loss
Experts in auditory loss will identify mild loss as those who have a threshold somewhere between 26 and 40 decibels. As it relates to real world applications, individuals experiencing loss in this range may have a difficult time hearing speech at lower levels, especially when they are surrounded by noisy background sounds. At the lower end of this range, an adult may see few problems or impediments in their daily life.
Moderate Loss
The scientific range for moderate loss is a threshold in the range of 41 to 55 decibels. Individuals in this range may find it difficult to understand speech even when it is at normal conversational levels. If there is a great deal of background noise, it can become nearly impossible to follow a conversation. This is where a listening aid may come in handy, making up for some of the lost threshold. A hearing center can evaluate your ability to hear and recommend an aid at the appropriate amplification.
Severe Loss
71 to 90 decibels marks the threshold range for severe loss. At this level of loss, an individual will not be likely to hear normal speech at all, regardless of background noise. They may even find it difficult to understand speech when it is yelled, apart from the natural distortion that occurs at these volumes. A listening aid may help those at the lower end of this range, but it isn't always the best choice for those who are at the higher end, moving towards profound auditory loss. A hearing center is the best place to have your ability to hear professionally evaluated. You may also want to speak to an audiologist and find out if a cochlear implant would be more appropriate.
Of course, even this breakdown does not cover everyone. There are also categories of moderately severe and profound auditory loss, as well as those individuals who have not reached one of the categories but do not hear as well as they used to.
Mild Auditory Loss
Experts in auditory loss will identify mild loss as those who have a threshold somewhere between 26 and 40 decibels. As it relates to real world applications, individuals experiencing loss in this range may have a difficult time hearing speech at lower levels, especially when they are surrounded by noisy background sounds. At the lower end of this range, an adult may see few problems or impediments in their daily life.
Moderate Loss
The scientific range for moderate loss is a threshold in the range of 41 to 55 decibels. Individuals in this range may find it difficult to understand speech even when it is at normal conversational levels. If there is a great deal of background noise, it can become nearly impossible to follow a conversation. This is where a listening aid may come in handy, making up for some of the lost threshold. A hearing center can evaluate your ability to hear and recommend an aid at the appropriate amplification.
Severe Loss
71 to 90 decibels marks the threshold range for severe loss. At this level of loss, an individual will not be likely to hear normal speech at all, regardless of background noise. They may even find it difficult to understand speech when it is yelled, apart from the natural distortion that occurs at these volumes. A listening aid may help those at the lower end of this range, but it isn't always the best choice for those who are at the higher end, moving towards profound auditory loss. A hearing center is the best place to have your ability to hear professionally evaluated. You may also want to speak to an audiologist and find out if a cochlear implant would be more appropriate.
Of course, even this breakdown does not cover everyone. There are also categories of moderately severe and profound auditory loss, as well as those individuals who have not reached one of the categories but do not hear as well as they used to.