Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Understanding What Normal Hearing Means

Sound is measured in units referred to as decibels (dB) which captures the power or intensity of sound. Every pitch – also known as frequency – of sound has a minimally detectable frequency. This means the quietest or lowest level of sound of that particular pitch that a person can hear, which is referred to as a hearing threshold. The softest sound that a person without impaired hearing can hear is 0dB. This is near complete silence and is used to define what normal hearing is. Normal hearing is the capacity to hear sound anywhere between 0 to 20dB. People without hearing loss can be anywhere on this spectrum – with some people being able to detect sounds at 5dB or 15dB.

Measuring Hearing Loss

Hearing healthcare specialists use tones and words to assess hearing ability in both ears. Part of this test, known as a pure tone test, involves listening to various tones played across different pitches. This process identifies the softest sounds you can hear at each pitch which captures your hearing threshold. Hearing loss exists on a spectrum, meaning that people experience different degrees of hearing loss. It is also important to know that hearing loss can be different in each ear. Hearing loss is identified as the range of decibels you cannot hear, categorized as:

Normal: 0dB to 20dB
Mild: 20dB to 40dB
Moderate: 41dB to 55dB
Moderately Severe: 56dB to 70dB
Severe: 71dB to 90dB
Profound: 91dB+

Though these increments may seem minor, it represents the difference between having difficulty hearing quieter conversation (mild hearing loss) to inability to hear an alarm clock (moderately severe). Ignoring hearing loss can worsen impairment, elevating the degree of hearing loss which is why early intervention is important!

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Being able to recognize the symptoms of hearing loss can help you intervene early which better helps transform hearing health. Hearing loss reduces a person’s capacity to perceive and process sound which creates various symptoms that take a toll on communication. Common symptoms include:

Tinnitus: This is often referred to as “ringing of the ears” and describes hearing noise in one or both ears. This sound is often described as a ringing, clicking, hissing, or buzzing-like noise.
Increasing the volume on your electronic devices (TV, phone, speaker, etc.)
Frequently asking others to repeat themselves, speak louder, or say things slower
Difficulty hearing in environments that are nosier, or in conversations with multiple people
Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other
Needing to move to a quieter space to hear better
Lip reading to help identify individual words or even pretending to hear during a conversation
Feeling drained or spent after interacting with others

These symptoms can be experienced mildly to severely, depending on the degree of hearing loss. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is important to have your hearing assessed.

Seeking Treatment

Addressing hearing loss starts with the simple step of scheduling an appointment for a hearing test. We’re here to help! Once your hearing needs are clearly established, our team will make recommendations that effectively meet those needs.

Hearing loss is most commonly treated with hearing aids which are electronic devices that help process sound. Hearing aids not only maximize hearing but offer countless and life-changing benefits: strengthening communication, relationships, cognitive functions, social life, and more!