The Classifications and Impacts of Hearing Loss
| Hearing Thresholds (dB HL) | Classification | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| -10 to 15 | normal hearing | Child can hear sounds and speech even if they are very soft |
| 16 to 25 | slight hearing loss | Child may have trouble hearing soft speech, soft sounds, or speech spoken from a distance |
| 26 to 40 | mild hearing loss | Child will consistently miss some speech sounds. This will be even more noticeable when there is background noise or when the child is not standing close to the person speaking. Speech and language development may be affected. Hearing aids will likely be beneficial. |
| 41 to 55 | moderate hearing loss | Child just barely hears speech at a conversational level in a quiet environment and may or may not be able to understand what is being said. The child's speech and language will likely be affected. Hearing aids are required. |
| 56 to 70 | moderately-severe hearing loss | Child may hear some speech sounds, but will be unable to understand speech without hearing aids. Speech and language development will be delayed. Hearing aids are required. |
| 71 to 90 | severe hearing loss | Child may detect loud sounds in the environment, but will not hear normal conversational speech. Child requires hearing aids in order to learn to speak. Sign language would be an option. |
| 90+ | profound hearing loss | Child likely responds more to vibrations than to sounds. Child may or may not receive benefit from traditional hearing aids. Cochlear implantation or the use of sign language are two options available that could benefit this type of loss. |