Hearing Loss as measured WITHOUT amplification (hearing aids, cochlear implants)
|
Levels of Hearing Loss |
Degree of Hearing Loss |
Effects on Language & Speech Understanding |
|
normal |
0 dB - |
None |
|
mild |
16dB - 30dB |
may have trouble hearing faint or distant sounds |
|
moderate |
31dB - 50dB |
speech must be loud to be understood; will have increasing difficulty in group discussions; speech likely to be defective; language usage and comprehension deficiencies; vocabulary limitations |
|
severe |
51dB - 80dB |
may be able to hear load voices about 1 foot from ear; may be able to identify environmental sounds; may be able to discriminate vowels but not consonants; speech and language will be affected if hearing loss is present before 12 months unless amplification is provided |
|
profound |
81dB + |
may be able to hear loud sounds more through vibrations than of tonal patterns; may rely on vision rather than hearing as the primary sensory channel for communication; speech and language deficiencies |
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