Understanding the different types of hearing loss is crucial as it influences what treatment options are available. Depending on the severity and type of hearing loss there are different solutions.

Kuulonalenemien tasoissa on suuria eroja, mutta suurin osa tapauksista luokitellaan lieviksi tai kohtalaisiksi. Ainoa tapa selvittää kuulonalenemasi taso on kuulon testaaminen ammattilaisella, joka myös kertoo, kuinka parhaiten voit hoitaa sitä.

What are the types of hearing loss?

There are three categories commonly used to define the type of hearing loss someone may have. These categories are determined by identifying the part of the ear where the problem comes from:

Degrees of hearing loss

Degrees of hearing loss are categorized from hearing thresholds as mild, moderate, severe or profound. Having your hearing professionally tested is the only way to determine the extent of your hearing loss, and how best to treat it.

Mild hearing loss
Soft noises are not heard. Understanding speech is difficult in a loud environment.

Moderate hearing loss
Soft and moderately loud noises are not heard. Understanding speech becomes very difficult with background noise.

Severe hearing loss
Conversations have to be conducted loudly. Group conversations require a lot of effort.

Profound hearing loss
Some very loud noises are heard. Without a hearing aid, communication is no longer possible even with intense effort.

Hearing loss in one ear
Hearing loss is also defined by whether one ear is affected (unilateral hearing loss) or both (bilateral hearing loss). This distinction is especially important because there are specific solutions for single-sided hearing loss which are not available to a person with bilateral hearing loss.

Congenital vs. acquired hearing loss
The cause of hearing loss can be categorized into congenital (hearing loss present at birth) or acquired (hearing loss present soon after birth).