Degrees of Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss Classifications
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
0 – 25 dB
Ability to hear speech
No difficulty
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
16 – 25 dB
Ability to hear speech
Very soft speech is difficult to hear, especially from far away. Background noise can worsen comprehension.
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
26 – 40 dB
Ability to hear speech
Soft speech is muffled but comprehensible in quiet environments. Noise and reverb can further complicate speech.
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
41 – 55 dB
Ability to hear speech
Speech is difficult to understand even in quiet situations, and background noise is highly distracting. Audio must be at a high volume to be heard.
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
56 – 70 dB
Ability to hear speech
Speech is muddy and requires amplification. Communicating with a group is difficult.
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
71 – 90 dB
Ability to hear speech
Conversations at regular volume cannot be heard, and even loud speech is difficult to understand. Amplification offers little help.
Hearing threshold (in decibels, dB)
91+ dB
Ability to hear speech
Most speech is inaudible, even with significant amplification.
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