Mild hearing loss may sound,
umm, mild, but it’s quite the misnomer. Professionals classify any hearing
thresholds between 25-40 dB to be a mild hearing loss.
But short of measuring your hearing loss
precisely, how can you tell if you have mild hearing loss?
People with a mild hearing loss tend to be able
to hear speech when someone is speaking close to them or if the room is quiet.
They can hear when people are talking loudly, too. However, they probably feel
that people are mumbling and/or that their ears are constantly plugged up. They
also struggle when there are competing sound signals (for example speech and
noise together). Also, quite a few people with mild hearing loss feel like they
have an abundance of wax in their ear and that they would hear fine if it was
just cleaned out.
CERTAIN CONSONANTS ARE TOUGH TO UNDERSTAND
Some consonants (/f/k/s/sh/) are very soft, and
people with mild hearing loss will struggle to hear those sounds. This could
lead them to think people are not speaking clearly or mumbling. However, it is
the hearing system struggling to hear those softer sounds that is causing their
issues.
The good news is that mild hearing loss is
correctable with hearing aids. With hearing aids, people with mild hearing loss
will be able to hear those soft sounds. The hearing aids will also help them
understand speech better when there are competing signals.
In the past, many people did not treat mild
hearing loss because it wasn’t considered a big deal. But things are changing.
Research is currently being conducted to show that treating mild hearing loss
can prevent further atrophy of the hearing system. Other studies are showing
the use of hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in older patients.
If you think you may have hearing loss or are
experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, mild or otherwise, it is best to
schedule a visit with a hearing professional to have it assessed.