What are the 4 levels of hearing loss?

Hearing loss is usually grouped into four broad levels so audiologists can describe how much sound a person is missing. These levels are based on your hearing threshold, which is the quietest sound you can detect at each pitch, measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL) on a chart called an audiogram.

How are the four levels defined?

The commonly used categories in Australia are:

• Mild (around 26 to 40 dB HL): Soft speech and quiet conversation can be hard to follow, especially with background noise.
• Moderate (around 41 to 60 dB HL): Normal conversation often becomes difficult, and you may frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
• Severe (around 61 to 80 dB HL): Speech is very hard to hear without help, and louder sounds may still seem faint.
• Profound (81 dB HL and above): Even very loud sounds may be difficult to detect through hearing alone.

Some clinics also use a "moderately severe" band between moderate and severe, which is why you may sometimes see five or six categories rather than four. The exact cut-offs can vary slightly between references, so the numbers are a guide rather than a fixed rule.

Why does the level matter?

Knowing your level helps explain the everyday situations you may find challenging and guides the support that could suit you. Mild loss might be managed with communication strategies or a subtle device, while more significant loss may benefit from more powerful hearing aids or, in some cases, other options an audiologist can discuss with you.

It is worth remembering that the level is only part of the picture. The pattern of your loss across low and high pitches, whether one or both ears are affected, and how well you understand speech all shape your experience. Two people with the same "moderate" label can have quite different needs, so results are always interpreted individually. The level can also change over time, which is why periodic re-testing is often suggested rather than assuming a one-off result will hold indefinitely.

You may also see hearing loss described by its cause or timing, such as age-related, noise-related or sudden loss. These descriptions sit alongside the four levels rather than replacing them, and together they help build a fuller understanding of your hearing.

Can hearing loss be different in each ear?

Yes. It is common for one ear to test differently from the other, and the type of loss can also vary. Some loss involves the outer or middle ear (conductive), some involves the inner ear or hearing nerve (sensorineural), and some people have a mix of both. An audiologist looks at all of this together rather than relying on a single number.

How is your level worked out?

Your level is established through a hearing assessment. During the test you listen to tones at different pitches and volumes and respond when you can just hear them. The audiologist also usually checks how clearly you understand speech and examines your ears. From these results they explain which level best describes your hearing and what it may mean day to day.

If you have noticed that conversations feel harder, the television seems quieter, or you are missing parts of what people say, a hearing assessment can clarify where you sit and what may help. At Hearing Help in Newport Marketplace on the Redcliffe Peninsula, you can book an assessment without a referral, and our audiologist will talk you through your results in plain language.