Hearing loss has multiple causes, the most common being aging. But that doesn’t mean that hearing aids are only for the elderly. Deciding what level of hearing loss requires a hearing aid is pointless because anyone with any degree of hearing loss can benefit from a set of hearing aids. If you’re trying to determine what percentage of hearing loss requires a hearing aid or simply wondering, “Do I need hearing aids?”, this guide reveals everything you need to know.
In the simplest of terms, hearing loss severity is defined in two ways: how loud a sound needs to be so you can hear it and which frequencies are harder for you to hear. The second test is important because older people, in particular, may struggle to hear high-pitched frequencies, such as the sound of a child’s voice. So how bad does your hearing have to be to get a hearing aid?
The answer is simple: whenever you experience any degree of hearing loss. Even slight hearing loss is linked with cognitive decline, and this rule applies regardless of how old you are. During your initial consultation with a hearing specialist, you’ll receive a hearing test. Your results will be gathered to create your unique hearing profile because everyone’s hearing is different and will require different treatment.
Most people find it extraordinarily difficult to judge their own level of hearing. Knowing the answer to “how bad does your hearing have to be to get a hearing aid?” requires you to be attentive because most hearing loss is gradual. The gradual nature of hearing loss means that many people don’t even notice that their hearing capacity has declined over the years. So, when do you need hearing aids? It all depends on the level of hearing loss you’re experiencing. Here’s what you need to know about the various severities of hearing loss.
Slight hearing loss is often not diagnosed by clinicians because it’s considered lower than the threshold required to classify it as adult hearing loss. Someone with slight hearing loss cannot hear sounds below 15 to 20 dB. At this level, you may not be able to hear someone whispering or the rustling of leaves. Children with this level of hearing loss are regularly fitted with hearing aids, as hearing conversations can still be problematic, especially if someone is mumbling.
Most people cannot tell that they have mild hearing loss because one-on-one conversations may not be a problem. On the other hand, hearing certain words could still be an issue in busy environments, such as a crowded restaurant. Mild hearing loss is defined as being unable to hear sounds quieter than 26 to 40 dB. To put this into perspective, whispering is logged at an average of 30 dB. You may already require people to repeat their words or to speak up, and therefore would benefit from hearing aids.
This is the point where many people seek out a hearing specialist. Sounds lower than 40-69 dB cannot be heard. The most common symptoms are regularly asking people to repeat themselves over the phone and in person. Moderate hearing loss is when most people decide to get a hearing aid. Standard hearing aids are incredibly effective at rectifying moderate hearing loss.
Severe hearing loss is a serious issue and causes major problems in people’s daily lives. Many people with severe hearing loss rely on lip-reading to understand what people are saying. For those at the upper end of the spectrum of severe hearing loss, listening to normal conversation is impossible without the help of hearing aids. Auditory specialists classify severe hearing loss as being unable to hear sounds between 70 and 94 dB. To give these decibel levels some context, some of the sounds someone with severe hearing loss will be unable to hear include:
● Normal conversation
● Lawnmowers
● Refrigerator humming
● Heavy traffic
● Noisy restaurant
If other people need to shout for you to hear them, it’s time to schedule a hearing test. Hearing aids can transform your life and allow you to live your life to the fullest.
At the top end of the hearing loss scale, there’s profound hearing loss. This category includes anyone unable to hear sounds lower than 95 dB. Someone with profound hearing loss likely qualifies for disability benefits and may choose to communicate using sign language. They’re unable to hear anything but the loudest of sounds. Unless someone is yelling into their ears, it’s likely that they won’t be able to pick up any sounds at all. Profound hearing loss is often caused by disease, trauma, or it may be congenital. People living with profound hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids, but specialist hearing aids may be required. Also, more powerful hearing aids may be required, so some of the more discrete styles may not be suitable.
It’s not uncommon for people to shy away from wearing hearing aids. State-of-the-art hearing aid styles are more discreet than ever. They’re designed for people of all ages and backgrounds. After deciding when to get a hearing aid, it’s important to know what to expect from them. While comparing hearing aids to glasses may seem like a good comparison, they don’t work in the same way as eyeglasses because there’s no cure for most types of hearing loss.
Hearing aids work by picking up acoustic sounds, converting them to a digital signal, and then amplifying the sound into your ear canal. The simplest way of thinking about them is like turning up the volume of your life. These devices work differently depending on the severity of your hearing loss. They amplify sounds within a particular range of pitches. Hearing aids have never been more advanced or capable of helping people hear in tricky listening environments, such as concerts, busy traffic, and noisy restaurants.
If you’re asking about hearing aids, you’re also likely wondering whether two hearing aids are better than one. The truth is hearing loss is not universal. Someone may have moderate hearing loss in one ear and only slight hearing loss in the other. In this case we can make the comparison to eyeglasses, as two hearing aids configured differently can help. Some of the benefits of wearing two hearing aids include:
● Improved speech understanding in challenging listening environments.
● Less feedback from wearing your hearing aids.
● Less listening effort throughout the day.
● Greater capacity to locate the source and direction of sounds.
During your hearing appointment, discuss with your audiologist what the best option is. Everyone’s hearing profile is different, which means tailored solutions are necessary to help people get the most from their hearing.
So, how bad does your hearing have to be to get a hearing aid? It depends, but our advice is to look into it as soon as you start to notice any kind of hearing loss. Hearing aids are not just for the elderly; even those with slight hearing loss can benefit from wearing one of these devices. While they cannot cure your hearing completely, they can make your life much easier and prevent cognitive decline.
Don’t struggle in silence and seek out help now. Hearing aids are more affordable and accessible than you may think. To find out more about whether you can benefit from hearing aids, contact EarPros today to schedule your free hearing test with a licensed hearing specialist.
Learn more about hearing aids and the cost of hearing aids from EarPros.
