Degrees of hearing loss (1391)

Hearing loss can happen in one or both ears. The amount and type of loss can be different in each ear. Your audiologist can explain how your child’s hearing loss may affect their speech and language. They can also explain different kinds of help for the hearing loss.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Minimal Hearing Loss (16-25 dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss can:

• cause absent, inconsistent, or unclear speech.
• be most common with softer sounds and word endings.
• make it hard to hear quiet sounds
• make it hard to hear when there is background noise.

If you put your index fingers in your ears, you can learn how your child hears.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Mild Hearing Loss (26-40 dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss can:

• hear up to half of what is said.
• miss softer words and consonants, like t, s, or p. This is most true when speech is quiet or there is background noise.
• have a hard time learning to talk.
• struggle to listen. seem like they are not paying attention.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Moderate Hearing Loss (41-55 dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss can:

• miss more than half of what is said.
• have problems pronouncing words.
• say fewer words.
• have problems in settings that are noisy or have echoes.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Mod-Severe Hearing Loss (56-70 dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss can:

• miss most spoken information.
• have delayed speech.
• have speech that is hard to understand.
• have a flat voice quality.

Adding visual cues and other assistive technology to the use of hearing aids will help children understand speech in noisy settings.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Severe Hearing Loss (71-90 dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss may:

• only hear loud noises when they are close. That is about one foot away from the ear.

Early use of hearing aids with extra language support will help speech, language, and learning.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Profound Hearing Loss (91+ dB)

What this means to your child:

A child with this level of hearing loss may:

• feel sounds as vibrations.
• rely on visual cues to help communicate and learn.

Hearing aids will likely not help them hear. Cochlear implants may offer the best chance of hearing and learning to speak.

Hearing loss (threshold in decibels):

Unilateral Hearing Loss (One ear)

What this means to your child:

Children with hearing loss in one ear:

• may have problems hearing soft or distant speech.
• may have problems figuring out where sounds are coming from.
• are at risk for speech and language delays.

It is helpful to reduce background noise and speak toward the good ear.

For more health and wellness information

Check out this resource: https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents