{"id":2432,"date":"2024-03-08T17:22:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T23:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/?p=2432"},"modified":"2024-03-08T17:22:57","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T23:22:57","slug":"what-are-the-stages-of-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/what-are-the-stages-of-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Stages of Hearing Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/audiology\/hearing-loss\/\">Hearing loss<\/a> is a prevalent issue that affects auditory processing abilities due to various reasons, including inner ear damage or the inevitable process of aging. Data suggests that about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">15% of adults in the United States experience some form of hearing loss<\/a>. While some instances of hearing loss can be averted, understanding the nuances of this condition is key to taking preemptive actions to maintain hearing health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Different Types of Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Man-holds-hand-behind-ear-to-hear.jpg\" alt=\"Man holds hand behind ear to hear\" class=\"wp-image-2435\" width=\"-186\" height=\"-124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Man-holds-hand-behind-ear-to-hear.jpg 1254w, https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Man-holds-hand-behind-ear-to-hear-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>There are three main classifications of hearing loss, each with distinct causes that influence the extent of hearing difficulty and the approach to treatment. The classifications are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Conductive hearing loss: This occurs when there&#8217;s a problem in the outer or middle ear. It&#8217;s typically addressed with medical treatments or surgeries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensorineural hearing loss: This type arises from issues within the inner ear or along the nerve pathways to the brain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mixed hearing loss: This involves a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognizing the severity of hearing loss which can range from mild to very severe, is essential for seeking appropriate treatment and advice from a hearing care provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stages of Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hearing loss is quantified into five stages, each affecting communication in unique ways. If you recognize any of the following stages in yourself, it&#8217;s recommended to consult a hearing specialist. The stages are defined by the softest level of sound, in decibels (dB), that a person can hear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Mild hearing loss: This stage is identified by hearing thresholds of 25 dB to 40 dB. Subtle sounds, such as a ticking clock or whisper, may be missed, and following conversations in places with background noise like, Blue Caf\u00e9, could be a struggle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moderate hearing loss This level is marked by a range of 41 dB to 55 dB, where normal conversation levels may not be heard clearly. This may lead to difficulty communicating over the phone or in most conversational settings, and the use of hearing aids is often advised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moderately severe hearing loss: With a range of 56 dB to 70 dB, individuals may find it hard to hear higher-volume sounds like alarms without the assistance of hearing devices. Participating in conversations can become significantly difficult.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Severe hearing loss: This stage occurs between 71 dB to 90 dB, where most noises are undetectable without the use of strong hearing aids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Profound hearing loss: At this stage, any sound quieter than 91 dB is inaudible. To interact effectively, individuals often require advanced hearing solutions like powerful hearing aids or cochlear implants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For those at the severe to profound stages, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/audiology\/hearing-loss\/communication-strategies\/\">alternative communication methods <\/a>such as lip-reading, or sign language often become necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hearing loss can affect one or both ears, with varying degrees in each, and can develop either gradually or suddenly, because of an injury or other immediate causes, necessitating urgent medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Should you or someone you know be experiencing any form of hearing loss, contact a hearing specialist to schedule a hearing test. They can recommend appropriate hearing devices or management techniques for the symptoms of hearing loss, aiming to improve communication capabilities and overall quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about hearing loss or to schedule a hearing assessment, please reach out to <span class=\"company-name \">Ear, Nose &amp; Throat Consultants<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/how-can-hearing-aids-restore-your-confidence\/\" class=\"related-post\">How Can Hearing Aids Restore Your Confidence?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/staying-informed-with-hearing-aids-and-alerting-devices\/\" class=\"related-post\">Staying Informed with Hearing Aids and Alerting Devices<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/understanding-and-managing-worsening-tinnitus\/\" class=\"related-post\">Understanding and Managing Worsening Tinnitus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hearing loss is a prevalent issue that affects auditory processing abilities due to various reasons, including inner ear damage or the inevitable process of aging. Data suggests that about 15% of adults in the United States experience some form of hearing loss. While some instances of hearing loss can be averted, understanding the nuances of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2432"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2432\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entconsultants.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}