4 Levels of Hearing Loss: Understanding and Managing Your Hearing Health

Hearing loss can vary widely from person to person in terms of cause and severity. While ageing is a common cause, other factors like medical conditions and prolonged exposure to loud noise can also lead to hearing loss. Understanding the different hearing loss levels can help you better manage the condition and seek appropriate treatment.

What causes hearing loss?

Hearing loss can stem from various factors, leading to difficulties in social interactions and daily activities. Common causes include:

Ageing: natural decline in hearing ability over time.
Prolonged exposure to loud noises: regular exposure to high decibel levels can damage hearing.
Medical conditions: diseases such as meningitis can affect hearing.
Hereditary factors: genetic predisposition to hearing loss.
Certain medications: some medications have ototoxic side effects that impair hearing.

Hearing loss decibels chart

Hearing loss is measured in decibels (dB) and categorised into four levels: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Normal hearing allows detection of sounds between 20-25 dB across all frequencies.

Level of hearing loss	Decibel	Symptoms	Sounds that you are missing	Recommendation
Mild hearing loss	Trouble hearing sounds under 40 dB	Difficulty hearing soft-spoken words, the hum of a refrigerator, or a ticking clock.	Birds chirping, rustling leaves, distant whispers.	A hearing test by a specialist can confirm mild hearing loss and recommend appropriate solutions.
Moderate hearing loss	Difficulty hearing sounds below 41 to 55 dB	Harder to distinguish consonant and vowel sounds. Sounds are heard but not clearly understood.	Normal conversation, laughter, the sound of a boiling kettle.	Seeking professional help is crucial for managing moderate hearing loss.
Moderate-to-severe hearing loss	Inability to hear sounds below 56-70 dB without hearing aids	Even with hearing aids, understanding speech might be challenging.	Doorbells, ringing phones, a ticking alarm clock.	Use of additional communication strategies like lip reading.
Severe hearing loss	Inability to hear sounds below 70 to 90 dB	Inaudibility of everyday noises like a ringing phone.	Traffic noise, a crying baby, a dog barking.	Hearing aids or cochlear implants are essential for improving quality of life.
Profound hearing loss	Only hearing sounds above 90 dB	Even loud noises, such as an aeroplane engine, may be inaudible. Reliance on lip reading for communication.	Fire alarms, police sirens, loud music at a concert.	Professional evaluation and use of hearing aids for partial improvement.

You can read more about the noise levels of everyday sounds in our guide.

Recognising the signs of hearing loss

Hearing loss often develops gradually, making it hard to notice at first. Look out for these signs:

TV volume: others complain that the TV is too loud.
Background noise: difficulty following conversations in noisy environments.
Phone conversations: challenges hearing clearly over the phone.
Repeating questions: frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
Mumbling speech: feeling that others are mumbling.

If you or someone you know shows signs of hearing impairment, it’s essential to consult a hearing specialist for a thorough assessment and treatment recommendations.

The importance of regular hearing tests

One in twelve people in the UK experiences hearing loss. For those over 50, regular hearing tests every two years are recommended to monitor hearing health and detect changes early.

Book a free hearing test

At Boots Hearingcare, we offer free hearing tests conducted by qualified audiologists. Our tests are designed to be quick, they only take 15 minutes and provide immediate feedback.

Here’s what you can expect:

Ear health check

Examination of your ears to ensure there are no physical issues affecting your hearing.

Hearing tests

Simple tests to measure your hearing capabilities.

Expert advice

Personalised recommendations to improve your hearing.

If signs of hearing loss are detected, we will schedule a more comprehensive 75-minute assessment.

Try our online hearing test

If you want to test your hearing before visiting us in-store, you can try our quick and easy online hearing test. This preliminary test can give you an idea of your hearing health and help you decide if you need a professional assessment. Try our online hearing test now.

Bringing a companion

You’re welcome to bring a friend, partner, or family member to your hearing test. Having someone with you can help remember the advice given and provide additional insights into your hearing difficulties.

Helping a loved one with hearing loss

If you suspect a loved one has hearing loss, it can be challenging for them to notice the gradual changes. Here’s how you can help:

Choose quiet places: engage in conversations in quieter settings.
Face visibility: ensure they can see your face when you’re talking.
Encourage testing: motivate them to book a free hearing test and offer to accompany them.
Be patient: if they need a hearing aid, support them as they adjust.

Understanding and reading an audiogram

An audiogram is a graph or chart that displays the results of your comprehensive hearing evaluation.

X-axis: shows different pitches of sounds played during your test (low-pitched sounds on the left, higher pitches on the right).

Y-axis: shows the loudness, increasing as you go down the graph.

Circles (red): represent your right ear.

Crosses (blue): represent your left ear.

Frequently asked questions

What causes hearing loss?

Hearing loss can result from various factors, including ageing, prolonged exposure to loud noises, medical conditions like meningitis, hereditary factors, and certain medications with ototoxic side effects.

How is hearing loss measured?

Hearing loss is quantified in decibels (dB) and classified into four levels: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. People with normal hearing can detect sounds ranging from 20 to 25 dB across various frequencies.

What are the symptoms of mild hearing loss?

Mild hearing loss involves trouble hearing sounds under 40 dB. You may have difficulty hearing soft-spoken words, the hum of a refrigerator, or a ticking clock. Conversations might sound like mumbling.

What are the symptoms of moderate hearing loss?

Moderate hearing loss means difficulty hearing sounds below 41 to 55 dB. You might struggle to distinguish consonant and vowel sounds, and sounds are heard but not clearly understood.

What does moderate-to-severe hearing loss entail?

With moderate-to-severe hearing loss, you can’t hear sounds below 56-70 dB without hearing aids. Even with hearing aids, understanding speech might be challenging, and you may need to use additional communication strategies like lip reading.

What are the signs of severe hearing loss?

Severe hearing loss means an inability to hear sounds below 70 to 90 dB. Everyday noises like a ringing phone might be inaudible, and hearing aids or cochlear implants are essential for improving quality of life.

What is profound hearing loss?

Profound hearing loss means only hearing sounds above 90 dB. Even loud noises, such as an aeroplane engine, may be inaudible, and there is a reliance on lip reading for communication.

How can I recognise the signs of hearing loss?

Signs of hearing loss include frequently asking people to repeat themselves, difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, challenges hearing clearly over the phone, and others complaining that the TV is too loud.

What hearing loss levels require a hearing aid?

Hearing aids are generally recommended for moderate (41-55 dB HL) to profound (91+ dB HL) hearing loss, as these levels significantly impact daily communication. An audiologist can provide specific guidance based on individual needs.

What should I expect during a free hearing test at Boots Hearingcare?

A free hearing test at Boots Hearingcare includes an ear health check, simple hearing tests to measure your hearing capabilities, and expert advice with personalised recommendations to improve your hearing. The initial test takes only 15 minutes, and if signs of hearing loss are detected, a more comprehensive 75-minute assessment will be scheduled.

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