The hearing loss classification system used by most hearing healthcare professionals defines a mild hearing loss as having thresholds between 26 and 40 dB HL. Keep in mind that the term “threshold,” for the sake of simplicity, means the softest sound you can hear at each frequency (pitch).
We measure hearing in decibels. Decibels (dB) are a scale of measurement that can be confusing. For example 40dB is not twice as loud as 20dB. 40dB is almost 4 times as loud as 20dB. If you have a hearing loss that averages 30dB you would need a sound to be 6 times louder to faintly hear the sound than someone who has threshold levels that average 0dB.
Mild Can be a Misleading Word
It is unfortunate that the phrase “mild” has been used to classify any degree of hearing loss. The word mild implies that a condition is “minimal” or ‘nominal.” Nothing could be further from the truth. An individual with a mild hearing loss will typically be able to get by in a quiet listening environment. In the presence of competing noise they will struggle. The degree to which they struggle will be dependent on many factors including:
- the distance between themselves and what they want to hear
- the location of a competing noise
- the volume of any competing noise
- the volume and pitch of what they want to hear, and so on
The Impact of a Mild Hearing Loss
You and your spouse are in the kitchen. You have a mild hearing loss and are sitting at the table. Your spouse is at the kitchen sink. Your spouse says, “What would you like for dinner?” You understood your spouse and responded, “A hamburger.” Did you hear everything your spouse said? Probably not but you got enough to understand the question. Your spouse responds with, “Would you like French fries with that?” And you say, “What did you say?”
Why Couldn’t I Hear?
When your spouse spoke the second sentence, the refrigerator (which was between you and your spouse) began to hum and your spouse turned on the water to rinse a dish. You were not in what you would describe as a noisy listening environment. However in this day and age there is a considerable amount of noise everywhere you go including your kitchen. This means that even with a hearing loss that would be classified as “mild,” you will struggle to hear your spouse in your kitchen.
Struggling to hear several times a day, day in and day out, is no way to spend every day. It’s a problem for you and for those who are trying to communicate with you. Your hearing loss may be classified as mild but the impact that it will have on your quality of life is anything but minimal. Call us today – we can help.