There is a lot of confusion about the difference between hard of hearing and deafness. They’re often confused with each other and used interchangeably.
The term “deaf” refers to those who have a hearing loss so severe that there is very little or no functional hearing. Some people are born deaf. Others become deaf over time as a result of loud noise exposure, aging, disease, or genetic factors. They often use sign language to communicate.
The term “hard of hearing” refers to a hearing loss where a person is still capable of hearing with the help of an auditory device. Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive devices can be helpful for people with hearing loss to communicate.
In general, these people are referred to as “hearing impaired.” Hard of hearing is used to describe mild to severe hearing loss. Deafness, on the other hand, is a profound loss of hearing.
Degrees of Hearing Loss
The term hearing loss refers to being unable to hear from 20 dB above in one or both ears. It causes difficulty hearing conversational speech or loud sounds. There are types of hearing loss that can be prevented, while there are others that can develop naturally over time or at birth.
Don’t wear them outdoors if you think it’s risky
Water and technology don’t mix well. Using your hearing aid when fresh out of the shower or on the beach will destroy them. Your ear canals are most likely still wet by the time.
Using them while partaking in heavy exercises is also taboo. You risk getting sweat inside your hearing aid. The dryer your hearing aid, the longer it will last. It’s best to keep it in a dry container to prevent moisture.
Hearing loss can affect your ability to communicate and hear in varying degrees. A decibel (dB) and a hearing loss (HL) scale is used to measure hearing loss. This can range from mild to profound.
- Mild (26-40 dB HL): Difficulty in picking up soft, subtle sounds.
- Moderate (41-55 dB HL): Can hear at normal volume but difficulty picking up words.
- Moderately Severe (56-70 dB HL)” Not being able to hear clearly at normal volume
- Severe (71-90 dB HL): Can hear loud sounds, but can have difficulty perceiving them
- Profound (91 dB HL+): Hearing little to no sound. This is most known as deafness.
Depending on the severity of their hearing loss, hearing impaired people can choose from various treatment options such as cochlear implants of hearing aids.
Talk to an ENT doctor to check your degree of hearing loss. Visit Hearing Solutions, located in Century Plaza Complex, Juana Osmeña St, Cebu City. You can also visit our Consolacion branch for service. It can be found in the CPG Arcade, on North Road, in Consolacion.
Here are some of the hearing tests we offer:
- Pure tone audiometry
- Play audiometry
- Tympanometry
- Newborn hearing screening
To book an appointment, you can call us at 0932 788 1168 or message us on Facebook.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/hard-of-hearing#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/hearing-loss/difference-between-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
