When you undergo a hearing test, your provider will define your hearing loss in decibels (dB). For example, if you have a 10 dB degree of hearing loss, that means you can hear sounds at or above 10 dB (approximately the sound of normal breathing). Your provider uses your decibel loss to define your level of hearing loss. ASHA divides hearing loss levels into the following categories:
- Slight: 16 to 25 dB
- Mild: 26 to 40 dB
- Moderate: 41 to 55 dB
- Moderately severe: 56 to 70 dB
- Severe hearing loss: 71 to 90 dB
- Profound: 91+ dB
If your provider identifies a mild hearing loss, you likely struggle to understand whispers, low-volume notifications and speech in busy places like Friday night dinners at the Rookery. Symptoms of mild hearing loss are often hard to notice at first. In many cases, it is your loved ones who identify the symptoms.
Because mild hearing loss symptoms are subtle, it can initially feel easy to ignore them. While ignoring your mild hearing loss may work for a short time, it can have detrimental effects on your mental and emotional health in the long run. Let’s look at some common side effects of mild hearing loss and how you can manage them.
Common Side Effects of Mild Hearing Loss
Hearing loss of any degree negatively impacts our ability to socialize and interact with the world around us – leading to an increased risk of anxiety, depression and other negative emotions. Because communicating with the people in their lives feels more challenging, people with hearing loss often feel a sense of loneliness, shame or inadequacy. Although hearing loss doesn’t make you any less worthy, it can be hard to shake the feeling that you’re missing something important.
How Can You Manage Mild Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment for mild hearing loss. The small but powerful devices are programmed to help amplify the specific frequencies you struggle to understand. Hearing aids with noise suppression are especially helpful in backgrounds with competing sounds, like busy restaurants. With mild hearing loss, you will likely have many devices to choose between, ranging from larger behind-the-ear models to more discreet in-the-ear or in-the-canal options.
Mild hearing loss doesn’t need to stop you from fully interacting with the world around you. Contact The ENT Center of Central Georgia today to discuss your hearing aid treatment options.
