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Various dB losses require a hearing aid. The question isn't so much what decibel loss requires a hearing aid, but at what point does your hearing interfere with your life enough that a hearing aid would prove beneficial.
Because people are different, hearing aid manufacturers intentionally design an array of hearing aids suited to mild (least-affected grade of hearing loss) loss to severe. Additionally, different models of hearing aids may effect when you might wish to purchase a hearing aid. For example, original hearing aids were analog, so they were made with a specific hearing loss in mind. If your hearing changed past a reasonable range covered by your hearing aid, it might have been necessary to purchase a new one. Now, analog programmable hearing aids are adjustable, and can be programmed by an audiologist to suit your fluctuating hearing loss. Finally, and most expensively (also: what I wear) are digital programmable hearing aids. My audiologist is able to test my aided and un-aided hearing, compare it to my hearing aid programs (plugged into the computer) and change my hearing aid levels very quickly. As someone with a permanent progressive loss, this type of hearing aid is helpful because my hearing aid adjusts as my hearing does.
In general, it is advisable to get a hearing aid if you have trouble hearing, if your hearing loss is affecting your relationships with others, if your safety is affected while driving, working, or at home, or if you are unable to adjust to a more physical form of communication (cued speech, American/British Sign Language, SEE, Simultaneous Communication, lip-reading, etc.).
As far as hearing levels go, a minimum loss is 26-45 decibels, and your purchase of a hearing aid truly depends on the above questions as to whether or not it will be beneficial.
If you believe you have a hearing loss, please consult an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist to rule out any other possibilities besides a permanent hearing loss. After that, take their advice regarding seeking out an audiology specialist to assist you in choosing which particular device would be most beneficial to you!
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Threshold of human in db?
The threshold of hearing is 0 dB. The threshold of pain = 137.5 dB.
How do you select hearing aid?
There is no best brand of hearing aid for everyone. Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, and Widex are examples of some of the larger and effective brands and they each have their areas of strength. The real question should be what is the best brand hearing aid is for me. That can only be answered by completing a thorough hearing evaluation and consultation to identify what your needs are and finding the hearing aids that seem to match up best to your needs.
What is db HL?
dB HL stands for decibels Hearing Level and is a unit used to measure the relative loudness perception for an individual with hearing loss. It represents the volume level of sounds that an average person with normal hearing can hear at a given frequency, serving as a reference point for audiologists to determine the extent of a person's hearing loss.
Who needs a beltone hearing aid?
Those who have experienced hearing loss would benefit from a Beltone hearing aid. Some signs these people might experience are difficulty understanding words in a conversation and repeatedly speaking too loudly.
Hearing protecting should be worn when noise levels are above what?
Any gunshot above 140 dB will damage your hearing. An M16 is 155-163 dB An M60 is 155 dB at the shooters position.
What is the difference between dB HL and dB SPL?
dB HL stands for decibel Hearing Level, and dB SPL stands for decibel Sound Pressure Level.
How loud does a sound have to be to do damage to your hearing?
90 db
What sound level damages your hearing?
90 db
How much dB you can hear by your ears?
You can start to hear at the threshold of hearing at 0 dB and end up at the threshold of pain at 137.5 dB.
What db does hearing damage begin at?
When your ears get more then the loudness of 85 dB for a longer time it is dangerous.
Can anyone recommend a hearing aid that works well?
It is difficult for anyone to recommend a hearing aid that works well because this is the type of thing that might work well for one person and not so well for another, based on individual needs. Your best bet to is discuss this with your hearing healthcare professional so that you can both decide on a hearing aid that works best for you.
What is the difference between dB SL and dB HL?
The "SL" in dB SL stands for "Sensation Level". The "HL" in dB HL stands for "Hearing Level". The difference between them is that dB SL is based on the hearing ability of an individual test subject, and dB HL is based on the hearing ability of an entire population of test subjects. 0 dB SL is the minimum level at which the test subject can hear a stimulus, usually a tone pip. The actual level will vary with frequency. If we refer to a level of, say, 40 dB SL, we mean a sound that is 40 decibels above a test subject's threshold of hearing. The dB HL scale is the mean dB SL of a large population (theoretically the world-population) of *normal hearing* people. They measured frequency-specific thresholds for alot of people, and averaged them to give the dB HL scale. Finally, dB nHL stands for "normalised hearing level". This is the same concept as dB HL, except the number of test subjects contributing to the average is smaller. It is standard practice for a Hearing Clinic to establish their own dB nHL scale based on all the normal-hearing test subjects they have had access to. This allows a clinic to ensure that the scale they use is correctly calibrated to their test equipment.
