What do your hearing loss test results mean?

If you're suffering from hearing loss, your doctor has probably sent you for a hearing test. But what do the results of this test really mean for you and the future of your hearing? Read on to find out what your hearing loss test results are all about.

Hearing loss is measured in decibels (dB) relative to normal hearing, on a scale that ranges from 0 to 100. A normal hearing score for an adult is 0 to 20 dB; for children it's 0 to 15 dB. The higher your score, the higher the volumes you need to hear and the worse your hearing — so 100 dB hearing loss means virtually complete deafness for that particular frequency.

People with mild hearing loss (21–40 dB) cannot hear whispers. They may find it difficult to understand speech if there is a lot of background noise. They may also have problems with quiet sounds and certain consonants, especially the soft sibilants, such as "f," "s" and "th." They may use lip reading and other facial and gesture cues to help them carry on a conversation. A hearing aid can make a significant difference for someone with mild hearing loss.

Those with moderate hearing loss (41–65 dB) can't hear conversational speech properly. They are likely to miss a lot of speech sounds unless they lip read. A hearing aid will help with speech; other gadgets, such as an amplified phone, can make a big difference, as well.

People with severe hearing loss (66–90 dB) cannot hear shouting. They may find it hard to understand speech even with a hearing aid. They may not hear sounds, such as traffic noise, either. They are likely to rely heavily on lip reading and may use sign language to communicate. Hearing aids and other devices may not be very helpful at this stage of hearing loss.

People with profound hearing loss (more than 90 dB) can't hear even very loud sounds that might be painful for anyone with normal hearing — such as aircraft noise at close range. They must rely on lip reading and sign language as hearing aids don't help much. They are unlikely to be able to use a phone, even with amplification, so would benefit from texting instead.

But for some deaf people, a remarkable piece of technology called a cochlear implant can help improve vital hearing and communication abilities.  If your hearing loss test results are in this range, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options.