How this Level of Hearing Affects an Adult

An adult with this degree of hearing loss is quite aware of the problem. Participation in most social activities is not possible without significant difficulty. All those around this individual will be aware of the hearing loss. Assessment and treatment of this degree of hearing loss is essential to maintaining social activities and a job. The person must seek help or be confined to a world of barely perceptible speech.

How this Level of Hearing Affects a Child

If a child were to be born with this degree of hearing loss, he or she would be quite delayed in the learning of speech and language. Because speech and language skills are so important for learning of all kinds, this child may not be ready for school by age 5 or 6. With early intervention (which may include hearing aids, speech and language therapy as well as other types of training), a child with this degree of hearing loss may catch up to his or her level of development. But it takes early identification and significant participation of parents and others to help this child reach his or her potential.

A moderate degree of hearing loss – from 41 dB to 65 dB hearing level – is enough so that a person with such a loss may be aware that a normal conversation is taking place, but will not be able to follow it without directly observing the speaker(s). As is obvious from the following audiogram, most of the consonants of speech are not heard. The person can hear vowels, but vowels carry only the strength of speech. Consonants carry the meaning.

Audiogram

A moderate degree of hearing loss, from 41 dB to 65 dB hearing level, is enough hearing loss so that a person with such a loss may be aware that a normal conversation is taking place, but will not be able to follow such a conversation without directly observing the speaker(s). As is obvious from the following audiogram, most of the consonants of speech are not heard. The person can hear vowels, but vowels carry only the strength of speech, consonants carry the meaning.