Degrees of Hearing Loss & Understanding Your Audiogram
Clear, plain-English explanations of your hearing test results—no medical jargon.
Degrees of Hearing Loss & Understanding Your Audiogram
Hearing loss is not an "all-or-nothing" condition. It exists on a spectrum ranging from mild difficulty with soft voices to severe challenges understanding everyday speech. At Hearing Aid Specialists Sth East Qld, we take the time to explain your test results in plain English—no complicated medical jargon.
How Hearing Loss Is Measured
Hearing sensitivity is measured in decibels (dB HL) across various frequencies (pitches), measured in Hertz (Hz). A lower dB score indicates normal hearing sensitivity, while higher numbers indicate greater degrees of hearing loss.
During a diagnostic hearing test, your results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram.
The Degrees of Hearing Loss Explained
| Degree of Hearing Loss | Decibel Range (dB) | What It Feels Like in Daily Life |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Hearing | -10 to 20 dB | You can comfortably hear soft whispers, background environmental sounds, and quiet speech. |
| Mild Hearing Loss | 21 to 40 dB | Soft sounds become difficult to hear. You may struggle to hear speech in noisy venues or catch words from distant speakers. |
| Moderate Hearing Loss | 41 to 55 dB | Understanding normal conversational speech becomes difficult without visual cues. TV volume needs to be turned up. |
| Moderately-Severe | 56 to 70 dB | Speech must be loud to be heard clearly. Group conversations and background noise pose major challenges. |
| Severe Hearing Loss | 71 to 90 dB | Normal conversational speech is unheard. Only loud sounds, such as shouting or heavy traffic, can be detected. |
| Profound Hearing Loss | 91+ dB | Very loud sounds like jet engines or power tools can be felt or heard faintly. Speech comprehension relies on lip-reading or sign language. |
What Is an Audiogram?
An audiogram is a visual chart representing the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches (from low-frequency bass sounds to high-frequency treble sounds):
- Horizontal Axis (Frequency in Hz): Represents pitch, moving from low bass sounds (250 Hz) on the left to high treble sounds (8000 Hz) on the right.
- Vertical Axis (Loudness in dB): Represents sound intensity, moving from soft sounds (0 dB) at the top to loud sounds (110 dB) at the bottom.
- Red 'O' Markers: Represent right ear thresholds.
- Blue 'X' Markers: Represent left ear thresholds.
High-Frequency vs. Low-Frequency Hearing Loss
- High-Frequency Hearing Loss: The most common pattern in adults. You can hear low-pitched vowel sounds (A, E, I, O, U) easily, but miss high-pitched consonant sounds (S, F, TH, SH, P, T). This makes speech sound loud enough, but not clear enough.
- Low-Frequency Hearing Loss: Less common, affecting the ability to hear low-pitched bass sounds like thunder, engines, or deep male voices.
Have Your Hearing Tested by Certified Audiometrists
If you haven't had your hearing tested recently, or if you hold an old audiogram from another clinic and want a second opinion, our team is here to help.
- Pensioners & DVA Cardholders: Free diagnostic assessments under the Hearing Services Program (HSP).
- Private Patients: Direct appointments available with no doctor's referral required.
