Mild Hearing Loss
From Expert System: Hearing Loss
A mild hearing loss is often unnoticed by the patient, but there may be physical indicators such as slightly reduced sound perception, a feeling of fullness in the head, or in rare cases some awareness of pain. Any degree of hearing loss deserves to be analyzed by a visual inspection of the external ear and canal (otoscopy). Sometimes wax occluding the ear canal is responsible for mild or moderate hearing loss. The removal of wax can be curative in many cases, although otheraccompanying causes should not be ignored.
In addition, hearing tests (audiometry) should be performed by a licensed professional who is qualified to do them. Examination and testing should confirm or exclude the existence of a hearing loss and if present, its degree. Many of these patients, if the problem is acknowledged, are candidates for treatment, usually with hearing aids.
Using the results of audiometry, from 0 to 25 decibels (dB) hearing loss is classified as borderline, and with some patients indicates the need for intervention. The generally agreed upon classification of mild hearing loss falls between 20 dB-40 dB.
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