Mild Hearing Loss
How this Level of Hearing Affects an Adult
Many adults with a mild degree of hearing loss are able to compensate in some situations. They can ask speakers to repeat, move closer to the television or turn up the radio, but they must struggle to hear the things that normal listeners hear. Music is less enjoyable, social situations may pose serious difficulties and, despite the protests of the person with the hearing loss, other people may notice a sense of aloofness or inattention. This type of hearing loss deserves at least the attention of clinical assessment and may benefit from treatments and/or therapies.
How this Level of Hearing Affects a Child
A mild degree of hearing loss can cause a child to lag significantly behind others in the production of speech and the learning of language. If a speech sound is unheard, the child cannot learn meaning or production. This mild degree of hearing loss exists often in children who have otitis media. If this problem persists throughout the time when a child is learning speech sounds and the associated language, delays in these areas will occur. That is why it is so important that children have their hearing evaluated early and often.
The following audiogram shows hearing levels which would be classified as “Mild Hearing Loss.” A hearing loss of this degree
