Hearing - Levels of impairment

According to www.Cochlear.com , we have the following:

Hearing loss is measured in decibels hearing level (or dBHL). This number represents the softest level you or your child can hear. Hearing level can be measured for pure tone sounds, as well as for speech sounds, and can be reported for both ears (bilateral) or for each ear individually (unilateral).

 

The amount of hearing loss someone has is ranked as mild, moderate, severe, or profound.

 

• Normal hearing
  You can hear quiet sounds down to 20 dBHL.

• Mild hearing loss
  Hearing loss in your better ear between 25 - 39 dBHL. You have difficulty following speech in noisy situations.

• Moderate hearing loss
  Hearing loss in your better ear between 40 - 69 dBHL
  You have difficulty following speech without a hearing aid.

• Severe hearing loss
  Hearing loss in your better ear between 70 - 89 dBHL. Require powerful hearing aids or an implant.

• Profound hearing loss
  Hearing loss in your better ear from 90 dBHL.
  You need to rely mainly on lip-reading and/or sign language, or an implant.