Understanding The Mild, Moderate and Severe Forms of Hearing Loss
Introduction
Hearing loss can be a very isolating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re just trying to understand what your doctor is talking about, or if you’re looking for ways to help someone with hearing problems, this article will demystify some of the most common terms associated with hearing loss.
Mild Hearing Loss
In general, hearing loss refers to the inability of a person to hear sounds at certain frequencies. A mild loss of hearing allows you to hear normal speech and other sounds in quiet settings. However, it can cause difficulty when there is background noise or when more than one person is talking at once.
There are many causes of mild hearing loss, ranging from aging to exposure to loud noises (e.g., music concerts) or ear infections. Mild hearing loss often goes unnoticed until it causes communication difficulties for an individual in his or her everyday life.
Moderate Hearing Loss
Moderate hearing loss is defined as a mild to moderate level of hearing impairment that is not severe enough to be classified as deaf.
Moderate hearing loss can have many causes, including but not limited to age, genetics and exposure to loud noises. If you suspect yourself or someone you love has moderate hearing loss, it’s important that you see an audiologist immediately. We will conduct all necessary tests in order to determine the cause of your hearing loss and what kind of treatment options may be available for you or your loved one.
Severe Hearing Loss
Severe hearing loss is the most disabling form of hearing loss. It affects your ability to communicate and participate in everyday activities. You may have difficulty understanding speech and may have trouble understanding environmental sounds like a telephone ringing or a doorbell.
They are different categories of hearing loss.
It is important to understand that there are different categories of hearing loss, and the severity can be mild, moderate or severe. These terms describe how much your hearing has been compromised.
Mild is the mildest form of hearing loss where you may still be able to hear normal conversation in a quiet room without the use of a hearing aid or any other assistive device. Moderate refers to more significant losses where you can hear only when shouting directly into your ears or with the use of an assistive device such as a hearing aid. Severe means that you need help from a specialist in order to hear sounds at all
Conclusion
We hope you have learned a little more about the different types of hearing loss. It is important to understand the severity of your own hearing loss so that you can take steps towards treating it or begin preparing for its effects on your life. If you have any questions about hearing loss or would like to schedule an appointment with us at our office, please call us.