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How Much Hearing Loss Requires a Hearing Aid?

Riesberg Institue Blog How Much Hearing Loss Requires a Hearing Aid?

Everyone has trouble hearing sometimes. Maybe it’s due to a noisy environment or you’re communicating with as oft-spoken person. But if you find yourself constantly asking people to repeat what they’ve said or you are continually turning up the volume on your TV, you may actually have hearing loss.

Your level of hearing can be determined during a hearing test that graphs the sounds you can hear on an audiogram. An audiologist provides these exams. The intensity of sounds as well as varying frequencies are tested to determine your hearing sensitivities. These numbers are noted as decibels. Normal hearing falls into the decibel range of 0 to 25 dB.

Hearing Loss Ranges (in decibels)

There are different levels of hearing loss. Some forms of hearing loss can be treated with a hearing aid.

·       Mild: 26-40 dB

·       Moderate:41-70 dB

·       Severe: 71-90 dB

·       Profound: 91+dB

If your hearing falls into the 26-70 dB range (mild to moderate), a hearing aid can be very effective in restoring sounds for your daily life. For some people with hearing loss that falls into the severe category, a hearing aid might be helpful, but this level may require a middle ear implant or cochlear implant to improve your hearing.Unfortunately, hearing aids will most likely be ineffective for people with profound hearing loss; a cochlear implant may be helpful.

Riesberg Institute has developed a hearing quiz: a quick assessment to let you know if it might be time to have your hearing tested. An audiological evaluation by Dr. Michael Riesberg will include tests of the outer, middle and inner ear to identify how these structures are working. Dr. Riesberg will also chart your level of hearing to determine the appropriate treatment. There are many different types of advanced technology hearing aids that can improve your quality of life without drawing attention to the fact that you are wearing one.    

If you feel you may have hearing loss in Pensacola, FL,contact Riesberg Institute by calling (850) 476-0700 or visiting our website.

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