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Levels of Hearing Loss

  • Normal Hearing - thresholds between -10 - 20 dB

  • Mild Hearing Loss - thresholds/PTA between 21 and 40 dB

  • Moderate Hearing Loss - thresholds/PTA between 41 and 70 dB

  • Severe Hearing Loss - thresholds/PTA between 71 and 90 dB 

  • Profound Hearing Loss - thresholds/PTA between 91 and 120 dB

Types of Hearing Loss

  • Normal Hearing - no hearing loss present

  • Sensorineural Hearing Loss - hearing loss due to damage to the outer hair cells in the cochlea (the organ of hearing).  Usually caused by noise exposure, aging or medication.

  • Conductive Hearing Loss - a loss due to something physical going on with the ear (i.e. an ear infection, otosclerosis, physical damage to the ar)

  • Mixed Hearing Loss - a combination of the above two types of loss

  • Central Hearing Loss - a deficit in hearing due to issues with the central nervous system or brain.

 

Signs of Hearing Loss

  • Asking friends/family to repeat things they have said

  • Television, radio and phone are all being turned up

  • Having more difficulty in noise

  • Watching peoples faces

  • Becoming more depressed/anxious

  • Keeping to yourself (being more isolated)

  • Memory Issues

  • Having Less Energy (more physically and emotionally drained)

  • Tinnitus (Ringing / Buzzing / Static in the ear)

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