What is a Moderate Hearing Loss?
When hearing loss progresses into what audiologists call moderate, it becomes hard to ignore. Most people start to notice the changes themselves. Let’s explore what defines this type of hearing loss, how it affects your daily life, and what you can do to manage it.
Audiogram Thresholds
Hearing professionals avoid giving general percentages. Instead, they refer to audiogram thresholds between 500Hz and 4kHz. If these thresholds fall between 40–69 dB HL, it’s classified as moderate hearing loss. Audiologists plot pure tone audiometry results on a chart called an audiogram.
Hearing loss can vary across frequencies. If thresholds fluctuate between mild and moderate or moderate and severe, audiologists may label the loss accordingly—e.g. mild-moderate or moderate-severe.
Effects of a Moderate Hearing Loss
The effects of moderate hearing loss can vary widely. It depends on how well someone’s brain processes the sounds they can still hear. Below are common difficulties experienced by people with this level of hearing loss.
Struggling with Soft Voices
Depending on the shape of the hearing loss, some speech sounds are easier to hear than others. For instance, someone with a sloping moderate loss might hear vowel sounds better than consonants. Speech may sound unclear or mumbly, especially when the speaker has a soft voice.
If the speaker turns away, visual cues like lip movements are lost. The brain works harder to fill in the blanks, and it’s not always successful. A soft voice becomes, for example, “What is time?” instead of “Would you like some wine?”
Missed Alerts and Phone Calls
People with moderate hearing loss may not hear doorbells, alarm clocks, or phones ringing—especially when far from the source. Telephone conversations also become harder due to sound loss and the absence of visual cues.
Phone and Distance Conversations
As voices travel across rooms, they lose volume. Someone with moderate hearing loss may miss parts of conversations happening at a distance.
Group Conversations & Background Noise
In group settings, it’s hard to predict who will speak next. Without quick access to visual cues, someone may struggle to follow the conversation.
In noisy environments like cafés or restaurants, the brain works overtime to separate speech from background noise. Those with a moderate loss often hear the low hum of chatter but miss higher-frequency clarity sounds. If one ear hears better than the other, background noise makes it harder to locate sound.
TV Volume and Unfamiliar Accents
To hear the television clearly, people may turn the volume up—sometimes too loud for others. Conversations with people who have unfamiliar accents are especially challenging. The brain must fill in unheard parts and interpret new speech patterns, making the task even harder.
Signs of a Moderate Hearing Loss
- Needing the television louder than others prefer
- Missing alert sounds like doorbells or timers
- Frequently asking for repetition
- Mishearing conversations and responding incorrectly
- Becoming quiet in social settings
- Struggling on phone calls
Management and Treatment
If the hearing loss isn’t caused by a temporary or conductive issue (like glue ear), it likely won’t recover without treatment. An audiologist can explain your hearing type and whether an ENT referral is needed. In many cases, hearing aids offer the best solution. In the UK, NHS hearing aids are available depending on eligibility, though some areas don’t offer devices for mild-moderate loss.
Private hearing care offers more choices in styles and technology levels. At Hear4U, we welcome clients across Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire. We also offer interest-free finance to make hearing care more accessible.
Assistive Listening Devices
Wireless accessories can greatly enhance hearing aid performance. People who struggle in noisy settings often benefit from remote microphones that stream speech directly to their hearing aids.
Audiologists at Hear4U use speech-in-noise tests to assess how well someone processes sound in difficult environments. Based on the results, they may recommend a remote mic or other device.
TV streamers allow users to enjoy clear sound at their preferred volume. Most modern hearing aids pair with smartphones and TVs via Bluetooth. For older models, phone clips and adapters are available.
If you’re looking for these devices, browse our sister site: Hearing Aid Accessories.
