Degrees of Hearing Loss
The degree of hearing loss refers to the severity of the loss. The table below shows one of the more commonly used classification systems. The numbers are representative of the patient’s hearing loss range in decibles (dB HL).
Degree of hearing loss |
Hearing loss range (dB HL) |
Normal |
–10 to 15 |
Slight |
16 to 25 |
Mild |
26 to 40 |
Moderate |
41 to 55 |
Moderately severe |
56 to 70 |
Severe |
71 to 90 |
Profound |
91+ |
Source: Clark, J. G. (1981). Uses and abuses of hearing loss classification. Asha, 23, 493–500. |