Degree of Hearing Loss

Your degree of hearing loss can range from “mild” to “profound,” the Better Hearing Institute says. Here’s are brief explanation of each degree:

• Mild — It’s the most common and under-diagnosed degree of hearing loss, the institute says. It means you probably have trouble hearing sounds that are less than 40 decibels, such as a whisper, rustling leaves or the sound of normal breathing. You may have trouble hearing others in noisy environments, or higher-pitched sounds.
• Moderate — In addition to the sounds described above, you may have trouble hearing sounds in the 40- to 60-decibel range, such as those typical of a quiet office. You probably have trouble keeping up with most conversations without the use of hearing aids.
• Severe — You probably have trouble hearing sounds up to 80 decibels, such as those of a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer.
• Profound — You probably can’t hear sounds above 80 decibels, such as a lawn mower, food blender or motorcycle.