Did you know that an individual’s hearing loss is described in decibels?

So what are decibels?

Decibels (dB) are used to measure the loudness of sound. A quiet whisper is about 30dB compared to normal conversation, which is about 60dB. The level of a shout close by would be about 80 or 90dB as would that of a lorry passing you in the street. A jet engine at 75 metres emits a noise of about 140dB.

Check out our handy guide below:

Can we use decibels to measure the levels of hearing?

The point at which a sound can just be heard is called ‘the threshold’.

Do you know what your hearing threshold is?

Normal Hearing (-15dB- 20dB)
Sounds can be heard at 20dB or less across all frequencies. All the sounds of speech can be heard clearly.

A mild loss (21dB – 40dB)
The child will hear that you are speaking, but will not be able discriminate the quieter elements of conversation which carry a lot of meaning.

A moderate loss (41dB -70dB)
Normal conversation will be difficult to hear without hearing aids.

A severe loss (71dB -95dB)
Access to normal speech conversation is not possible without hearing aid technology. Child may respond to loud sounds in the environment.

A profound loss (greater than 95dB)
Access to normal speech conversation is not possible without hearing aids. They will be completely dependent on hearing aid technology.

Stayed ‘tuned’ for facts on frequency soon!