What Level of Hearing Loss Requires the Use of a Hearing Aid?

Your audiologist specializes in treating a wide range of conditions related to the ear, hearing and balance. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions that they will deal with and, in most cases where action is needed, they will recommend a hearing aid as treatment. If you think that you might be experiencing hearing loss, then you may be wondering if you’re going to need to use a hearing aid. Here, we’re going to look at what level of hearing loss requires the use of a hearing aid, the difference between the levels of hearing loss and how a hearing aid can help you.

The Different Levels of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is commonly defined as the inability to hear sounds that someone with a normal sense of hearing would be able to pick up on, whether it’s partial or total. People who do not have hearing loss are typically able to hear any sounds of 20 hertz (Hz) at louder than 20 decibels. As such, if you can’t hear noises under 20 decibels (dB), that isn’t normally considered to be hearing loss. Here are some of the levels of hearing loss and how they are defined:

• Mild: Hearing loss means a person has trouble hearing noises between 25-40dB
• Moderate: Hearing loss means a person has trouble hearing noises between 41-55dB
• Moderate-severe: Hearing loss means a person has trouble hearing noises between 56-70dB
• Severe: Hearing loss means a person has trouble hearing noises between 71-90dB
• Profound: Hearing loss means a person has trouble hearing noises greater than 90dB

When Would You Require the Use of a Hearing Aid?

The answer to this isn’t as simple as pointing out a level that you should use a hearing aid. Your audiologist would recommend that anyone who is experiencing moderate hearing loss or hearing loss of any level more severe than that should seriously consider making use of a hearing aid, but there are some people with mild hearing loss who could benefit from a hearing aid, as well.

The most important factor is to consider what kind of impact your hearing loss might have on your life and whether a hearing aid would be able to help improve your quality of life. If you’re at the point that you’re noticing symptoms of hearing loss, such as having difficulty understanding people speak, or noticing that you have to turn the volume up when watching the TV or listening to the radio, then you might have some instances in which hearing aids can be of real benefit.

How Hearing Aids Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Untreated hearing loss can have impacts that are more serious than you might think. As such, if you do feel any symptoms that could be alleviated by a hearing aid, your audiologist would seriously recommend that you talk to them about the potential of having one fitted. There is a wide variety of ways that hearing aids can improve your quality of life, including the following:

• Some people can feel unconfident about going outside or living an active lifestyle if they’re not better able to perceive the environment around them through sense. Wearing a hearing aid can better allow you to hear the environment when you’re outside, helping with an active lifestyle.
• Similarly, a lot of people with hearing loss can experience isolation because they feel unconfident about conversation and communication with other people. This can lead to worsening mental health, as well. Hearing aids can prevent that from happening.
• Being able to hear everything around you can be a significant confidence booster. It can help you be more active in socializing, navigating social situations and getting along at work or just when you’re out and about.
• Hearing loss can affect your closest relationships too, especially if, like many people, you don’t feel comfortable about constantly reminding people to speak up or look at you when they’re talking. A hearing aid can alleviate some of this stress.
• A hearing aid can also alleviate the strain that comes with having to focus all the time to hear other people properly.

If any of those benefits sound like they could be relevant to you, that’s a good sign you could benefit from a hearing aid.

Get the Advice and Help You Need from Your Audiologist Today

Whether you suspect or already know you have hearing loss, your audiologist is the person best suited to help you make treatment decisions to improve your way of life. Take a look at the website to learn more about Siouxland Hearing Health care, P.L.C. and how we can help, or call us directly at (712) 266-3662.