Moderate Hearing Loss
By Ellen Mc Laughlin

Moderate Hearing Loss

When we think of hearing loss, we usually think of the severe type of loss where people cannot hear unless you shout at them and where they cannot function without the use of strong hearing aids. However, more people are affected by moderate hearing loss than by the “stereotypical” hearing loss. The person with moderate hearing loss may not even be obvious at first.

While any level of hearing loss affects a person’s ability to assess their surroundings and communicate effectively, those with moderate levels of hearing loss are particularly affected where speech is concerned, particularly discriminating words where background noise exists. The amplification provided by a properly-adjusted hearing aid is essential for those suffering from moderate hearing loss when it comes to speech and communication.

Decibels hearing level, which audiologists cite as dBHL, are used to determine the level of hearing loss. A person with normal hearing is able to hear a variety of sounds across all frequencies at 0 to 20dBHL. Those with moderate hearing loss, however, require a dBHL threshold of between forty to sixty-eight dBHL’s to hear the same sounds. As with most other types and levels of hearing loss, an audiometry, or graph of the pattern of hearing loss, may also help in determining the cause of a moderate hearing

loss.

Without the use of hearing aids, those suffering from moderate hearing loss must maintain a very intense level of concentration in order to properly understand speech cues, and to speech-read. Such concentration is very hard to maintain for any length of time. Moderate hearing loss is, therefore, often diagnosed when the affected individual becomes exhausted from attempting to keep up with normal speech cues and communications; moderate difficulty in communicating is also one of the first things parents, teachers and co-workers may notice about those with untreated moderate hearing loss.

Some causes of moderate hearing loss are treatable and hearing can either be restored to normal levels, or greatly improved. Such causes may include infections ear canal blockage or blockage of one or both of the Eustachian tubes, a treatable disease, etc. A moderate level of hearing loss may also result from the use of certain drugs, such as aspirin and certain antibiotics, and some temporary medical conditions.

It is especially important that moderate hearing loss not become even worse, so careful and constant monitoring of the level of hearing loss is quite common for those with moderate hearing loss. Adjustments in hearing aids and minimization of exposure to harmful levels of noise are two major factors in maintaining a moderate level of hearing loss.

Ellen Mc Laughlin is a prolific writer and has been active in the field of moderate hearing loss for many years.