The “mild” in mild hearing loss is a bit of a misnomer. Truthfully, it’s anything but. Professional hearing specialists define mild hearing loss as being unable to hear sounds that are quieter than 25 dB. However, any hearing loss threshold between 26-40 dB is classified as mild hearing loss.1 Of course, it’s one thing to list off the dictionary definition of mild hearing loss; it’s another to understand what that means in the real world. So let’s take a closer look.
Mild Hearing Loss in Everyday Life
Short of measuring your hearing loss in decibels, how can you tell if you have mild hearing loss? The best way to think about degrees of hearing loss is to think in terms of sound thresholds.2
- Mild hearing loss: A person may hear some speech, but softer sounds are harder to hear.
- Moderate hearing loss: A person may not hear any speech at normal volumes and may need others to raise their voice or speak more clearly.
- Severe hearing loss: A person will not hear any speech at normal volumes and may only hear some louder sounds.
- Profound hearing loss: A person will not hear any speech unless the speaker is shouting.
For instance, someone with mild hearing loss may hear perfectly fine in one-on-one conversations at normal volumes, but they might have difficulty with quieter conversations, hushed voices, or following conversations when there is background noise. A person with mild hearing loss may complain that others are mumbling or ask others to repeat themselves.
Certain Sounds Are Tougher to Understand
When it comes to human speech, certain consonants are softer than others, and these sounds becomes more difficult to hear with hearing loss. Sounds like f, k, s, and sh are already very soft, but someone with mild hearing loss may miss these sounds entirely. As a result, they may believe those around them aren’t speaking clearly or annunciating themselves. This can cause issues like misunderstandings, embarrassment, shame, and even depression or anxiety.
It’s important that as soon as you start to notice a loved one struggle with their hearing, you speak to them about the possibility of hearing loss from a place of compassion, understanding, and support. Because when it comes to hearing loss, timing is everything. Most forms of hearing loss are permanent and degenerative, meaning that it will only worsen over time without intervention.
The sooner hearing loss is addressed, the sooner they can get back to hearing their best.
Preventing Hearing Loss
The good news is that hearing loss is preventable for the most part. Adopting healthy hearing habits early on can help delay the onset of hearing loss. Healthy habits include:
- Listening to audio like music, TV, movies, etc. at an appropriate volume, especially when using personal listening devices like headphones and earbuds. The 60/60 rule suggests keeping listening devices at or below 60% maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
- Protecting your hearing when you’re exposed to unsafe noise levels by using hearing protection devices like earplugs and headsets. If you work in an environment where noises frequently exceed safe levels, be sure your employer is following OSHA and NIOSH protocols.
- Giving your ears a break from continuous noise exposure so your auditory system has time to recover.
- Schedule routine hearing tests. Adults 18-40 years old who are in overall good health and are not experiencing any hearing loss symptoms should get a routine hearing test every 3-5 years. If you do suspect you have some form of hearing loss, then you should schedule more frequent exams. After the age of 40, try to schedule a test every 1-3 years.3
Treating Mild Hearing Loss
The better news is that mild hearing loss is treatable with hearing aids. Hearing aids help individuals with hearing loss perceive those sounds they would miss without intervention. In fact, the newest generations of hearing aids are able to mimic the brain’s sound processing system for the most accurate and true-to-life sound quality. That way, even in the most difficult of listening environments, with hearing aids, you don’t have to worry about missing a thing.
Get Back on Track to Better Hearing Today
In the past, people might have considered mild hearing loss unimportant. After all, they assumed that because they could still hear some, then it wasn’t a big deal. But today we know better. Research over the last 10 years alone has shown that hearing loss accelerates brain shrinkage, that hearing loss is the number 1 treatable risk factor for dementia, and that the use of hearing aids in adults with hearing loss can improve mortality rates.
Think you may have hearing loss, mild or otherwise? Don’t underestimate it any longer. Schedule a hearing test at The Hearing Center today to have your hearing professionally assessed by one of our hearing specialists. Get the treatment you need to hear life to the fullest.
Ready to take your hearing health seriously? Schedule an appointment today.
Not sure whether you have hearing loss? We have a test for that! Try our FREE online hearing test.
References
- Degree of Hearing Loss. American Speech-Language-Hearing Associations. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/degree-of-hearing-loss/
- Types of Hearing Loss. Center for Disease Control. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/about/types-of-hearing-loss.html
- Lowery, Kristy PhD, CCC-A, FAAA. How Often Should I Have My Hearing Tested? Audibel. Found on the internet at https://www.audibel.com/hearing-loss-treatment/how-often-to-get-hearing-tested/