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What Level of Hearing Loss Requires a Hearing Aid?
Any level of hearing loss, from mild to profound, can benefit from certain types of hearing aids. However, the ideal hearing aid depends on the degree of hearing loss.
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At a glance:
- Seniors with mild to moderate hearing loss can benefit from more discreet hearing aids, such as in-the-canal (ITC) or completely-in-canal (CIC) styles that provide subtle amplification without bulk.
- Some advanced behind-the-ear (BTE) or receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids can improve the quality of life for seniors with moderate to profound hearing loss, even if they can’t restore normal hearing.
- Untreated hearing loss is a major issue for US adults, as only 15–30% pursue hearing care through valuable, audiologist-approved devices.
Did you know? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 27% of older adults aged 60–69 and 55% of those aged 70–79 suffer some level of hearing loss. While most seniors aren’t addressing their hearing health as they should, wearing hearing aids is a simple way to enjoy normal conversations and other aspects of daily life once again.
However, the best type of hearing aid for your situation largely depends on your level of hearing loss. Below, we explore how different levels of hearing loss impact the ideal hearing aids for you, so you can make the most of a professional hearing test.
Understanding The Different Levels of Hearing Loss
When you go to the audiologist for a hearing test, they’ll classify you into one of the categories below. The test is based on how loud sounds must be for you to register them, measured in decibels (dB), which describes loudness.
| Level of hearing loss | Hearing loss range (dB HL) | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | -10–25 | No difficulty hearing speech or sounds |
| Mild | 26–40 | Difficulty hearing soft sounds or whispers, especially in noisy environments |
| Moderate | 41–55 | Hard, but possible, to follow normal conversations |
| Moderately Severe | 56–70 | Struggle to hear loud speech; TV and phone use becomes difficult |
| Severe | 71–90 | Can only hear very loud noises, like shouting, at close range |
| Profound | 91+ | Little to no hearing; relying heavily on lip reading or sign language |
When To Get Hearing Aids: The Right Hearing Aid For Each Type of Hearing Loss
Once an audiologist identifies your level of hearing loss, you should either ask them or your primary health care provider for advice on which hearing aids are the most effective and affordable for you. Here are some suggestions:
Mild Hearing Loss
Even if mild hearing loss doesn’t have a major impact on your life, hearing aids can still play a role in improving speech clarity, reducing listening effort, and helping you stay fully engaged in conversations. Typically, smaller styles that sit inside the ear canal (like CIC or ITC options) work well and are virtually undetectable.
You can also look into over-the-counter hearing aids as a cheap alternative to prescription devices. Though they might not fit your middle ear perfectly, they’re a good starting point to see if hearing aids will improve your quality of life.
Moderate to Moderately Severe Hearing Loss
At these levels, hearing aids become more essential for daily communication, as they make it much easier to follow group discussions, talk on the phone, or listen in loud background noise. For example, Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids help you avoid listening fatigue through a moderately discreet design and Bluetooth features. Direct Hearing In-the-ear (ITE) devices are more noticeable, filling a portion of the ear, but are also commonly recommended if you have a hard time handling smaller devices.
Severe to Profound Hearing Loss
Severe hearing loss, which can also increase the risk of cognitive decline by over 5x in older adults, requires hearing aids that provide significant amplification. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids that hug the outer ear are one of the most durable and easy-to-use options, often coming with essential features like noise suppression and tinnitus masking. They’re also easy to use for seniors who want longer battery life or struggle to handle small devices.
If you have profound hearing loss, you may not be able to restore your hearing fully. However, certain BTE devices or cochlear implants, surgically placed devices that bypass damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, can provide meaningful improvements.
Do I Need Hearing Aids? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Sometimes hearing loss is obvious, but sometimes it’s not. Here are some signs that your problem is more than just a little earwax:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves in conversation
- Struggling to follow conversations when there’s background noise
- Finding yourself frequently turning up the volume on the TV or radio
- Not being able to hear high-pitched sounds (doorbells, ringing phones, bird songs, etc.)
- Relying on lip reading to get through conversations
- Feeling exhausted after social situations
- Avoiding social gatherings due to communication issues
- Persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
If you notice several of these signs, don’t wait! Reaching out to an audiologist today can help you prevent further hearing loss or related medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Levels of Hearing Loss
The different levels of hearing loss include mild (26–40 dB), moderate (41–55 dB), moderately severe (56–70 dB), severe (71–90 dB), and profound (91+ dB).
If you notice any of the signs listed above, including struggling to keep up with conversations, missing high-pitched sounds, or avoiding social activity, you should consider connecting with an audiologist for an official hearing test.
Not fully. Hearing aids can’t “cure” the underlying issues in the inner ear causing hearing loss, but they can magnify sounds to assist in the hearing process. Typically, the less severe your hearing loss is, the more effective the device will be in restoring “normal” hearing. Learn more about hearing aid statistics.
Many seniors can benefit from hearing aids for mild hearing loss, from over-the-counter options to discreet ITC devices.
Yes, hearing aids can help seniors with profound hearing loss improve their hearing day-to-day, but the effects are limited depending on how damaged the inner ear is.
Yes, hearing loss tends to progress without hearing aids. When the brain can’t pick up on sounds, it experiences auditory deprivation and forgets how to process them, causing faster hearing and overall cognitive decline.
The cost of prescription hearing aids averages $6,500 per pair ($4,000 to $12,000), while OTC options range from $100 to $2,500.
Help us improve our cost data! Email your latest hearing aids quote to [email protected]. Rest assured, your personal details will remain completely confidential.