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How much hearing loss is normal and when should you talk to an Audiologist

Ealing Hearing Centre • November 21, 2022

Are you at crossroads? You think and feel you’ve hearing loss, but you aren’t sure. You wonder, “Should I visit my audiologist? Am I imagining things; do I actually have hearing loss?”

As the dilemma persists- you feel trapped with panic. How can you determine that you have hearing loss? How much hearing loss is normal? Is it time to call the audiologist for an appointment? Let’s find out.

Normal Hearing 0-20 dBHL

Most people have normal hearing. This means they can hear everything they’d expect to hear, including a conversation with friends, quiet sounds, someone whispering nearby, or doing so a few feet away.

The contrast? Anyone with a degree of hearing loss won’t hear the following sounds (which people with normal hearing hear):

● Someone breathing

● Leaves rustling in the wind

● Buzzing mosquitoes

What’s your situation?

Mild Hearing Loss 26-40 dBHL

Here are some tell-tale pointers to help determine if you have mild hearing loss. First, you can hear most of what you could hear previously. Indeed, you can hear many other sounds if you raise the volume or move closer to the source.

However, if you’ve mild hearing loss, you won’t hear the following sounds:

● Humming refrigerator

● People whispering

● Babbling water in a stream

Moderate Hearing Loss 41-55 dBHL

Those with moderate hearing loss may not hear some sounds that they could previously hear. Even when they try to be attentive, they’ll only ‘hear’ silence when they used to hear “soft sounds.”

If you’ve moderate hearing loss, you won’t hear the following sounds:

● Workers busy in a quiet office

● A percolator brewing coffee

● Rain falling on the roof

Moderately Severe Hearing Loss 56-70 dBHL

You won’t hear:

● A running dishwater

● People conversing at a normal volume

● People laughing

Severe Hearing Loss 71-90 dBHL

Again, such hard-of-hearing persons (with severe hearing loss) usually miss out on what they’d want to hear, such as friends and grandchildren laughing. Sadly, they must raise the volume to what others consider bothersome to hear their favourite TV shows.

Here’s what they can’t hear:

● Traffic noises

● Telephones or doorbells ringing

● The sounds of a vacuum cleaner

Profound Hearing Loss 91-100 dBHL

Sadly, those with profound hearing loss spend most of their time in silence when the world is bursting with sounds. However, they might still hear loud booms and similar sounds like fireworks and thunder.

Here’s what they won’t hear:

● A running lawnmower

● Someone shouting

● Motorcycles roaring by

If this is your situation, call your audiologist right away. Help is available for any range of hearing loss you may think you have.

We have everything you need, here at Ealing Hearing Centre – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

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Love Your Hearing This February: A Perfect Time to Prioritise Your Hearing Health

By Sukhina Sidhu • February 15, 2025

February is the month of love, and there’s no better time to show yourself some love by prioritising your hearing health. At Ealing Hearing, we believe that good hearing is a vital part of living your best life – whether it’s enjoying meaningful conversations, listening to your favourite music, or experiencing the world around you. It’s easy to take your hearing for granted, but just like your heart or your eyes, it needs attention and care to stay in top shape. Why You Should Love Your Hearing Your hearing health plays a significant role in your overall well-being. Studies show that untreated hearing loss can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and even depression. Yet, many people wait years before seeking help. Don't wait for your hearing to get worse – taking care of it early on can make a huge difference to your quality of life. The Benefits of Early Intervention By having a hearing check-up now, you can catch any potential problems before they get worse. Early intervention can improve communication, reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and enhance your emotional well-being. Hearing aids and other solutions can dramatically improve your ability to engage with loved ones, take part in social activities, and stay active in your community. We are a tribal species so it’s vital to keep in contact with others for optimum health! At Ealing Hearing, we offer professional assessments, and a range of solutions tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for hearing aids, advice on how to protect your hearing, or simply want to learn more about your hearing health, we are here to help. Take Action This February This February, give yourself the gift of better hearing. It’s simple – book an appointment with Ealing Hearing Centre today and discover how we can help you hear the world around you more clearly. Our family-run, experienced team are dedicated to providing you with the best care, personalised to your hearing needs. Don’t wait – your hearing deserves love too! Call us today to schedule your consultation. Alternatively, you can book an appointment by emailing us or visiting our website for more information (LINK) Hearing well, living well – show your ears some love this February.

How To Enjoy Concerts and Clubs Without Hearing Loss

By Sukhina Sidhu • January 15, 2025

Have you ever experienced a constant ringing in your ears while you're out at a concert venue? Everything sounds muffled; you talk loudly, practically shouting at your friends because you can't understand them. You know this isn't normal—it's temporary hearing damage. Is it possible to enjoy loud music at a concert or club without experiencing some hearing loss? Yes, you can have fun at your favourite club or venue and still protect your hearing! Here are a few simple tips to help keep your hearing safe while having fun. Carry Reusable Earplugs Reusable earplugs are they're designed so they muffle sounds for clubbers and musicians. They're generally pretty inexpensive, and they make the loud atmosphere safer for your ears without stopping you from hearing the music. If you're attending a music festival or an event with fireworks, you can also purchase ear defenders for your children. Get Away From Speakers Don't stay close to booming speakers. Remember that they're the primary source of loud noises. Dancing too close puts you at risk of suffering permanent hearing damage. Avoid standing directly in front of loud instruments or amplifiers for the same reason. Take Regular Breaks If you're planning to stay in a noisy club or arena for a long time, take regular breaks. This will give your ears a much-needed break. Take advantage of chillout zones which are usually available at concert venues. The zones will provide your ears with a little respite from the booming noise. If there are no chillout zones, plan to leave the venue at specific intervals or even swing by the restroom and take a break. Avoid Shouting If you’re in a loud club atmosphere, don’t add to the noise by shouting. Instead, speak slowly as you usually do. This is healthy for your ears, and it's also beneficial for others' hearing. Allow Recovery Time After being in a loud environment for a long time, give your ears sufficient time to recover. Stay away from a noisy environment for a minimum of 18 hours. If you have to remain in a loud atmosphere for extended periods, make sure you have your earplugs ready! Exercise Regularly Did you know that regular exercise is excellent for our hearing? Yup! taking regular aerobic exercise significantly increases blood flow to the ear. In turn, this helps to reduce hearing loss. If you're planning on going to a weekend concert, maybe it's time to start running a few weeks before. Know the Setlist Improve your concert experience by researching the setlist before the performance. You can email the concert venue and ask. That way, you can anticipate songs scheduled to come up next. That way, you know when to take a break or when that extra loud song is coming on. Get in touch with Sid, Sukhina and the team to find out more

Hearing Aid Solutions

By Sukhina Sidhu • December 15, 2024

You may not think that hearing aids have accessories available. Guess what? There are so many to choose from! Hearing aids have all kinds of bits and bobs to go with them; let’s explore some hearing accessories. Hearing Aid Accessories TV Streaming Devices People suffering from hearing loss often turn up the TV until they can hear it. The problem is that the volume they find comfortable is way too loud for people who don’t have hearing troubles. So instead of constantly dealing with the volume being too quiet or too loud, make it so everyone can be comfortable. TV streaming systems allow each person with hearing aids to set the volume for themselves. Most systems have a pretty good range too. You do not have to sit right in front of the TV all the time. You can walk away for a bit and still keep your hearing aids connected. Wireless Transmitting Microphone Sometimes hearing aids need a boost to give people the best hearing experience. Wireless microphones help send audio directly to a person’s hearing aids and reduce background noise. These devices are beneficial in areas with a lot of background noise, such as: ● Restaurants or Cafés ● Small group conversations ● One-on-one conversations ● Class lectures ● Outdoor and indoor activities ● Watching TV ● Phone calls ● Audio/voice from the computer, radio, or other devices Alarm Clocks Hearing aid accessory companies have developed alarm clocks for the hearing impaired. Instead of worrying about getting up on time, your alarm clock can do more than ring in the morning. With Bluetooth connectivity, if you sleep with your hearing aids, such as in-the-ear and in-the-canal hearing aids, you can hear your alarm in real-time. If you don’t sleep with your hearing aids, you can get alarm clocks features that have vibrations, sounds, and lights. The multiple variations of nose and light will help reach through the sleepy fuzz to wake you up. Accessories to Fit Your Life There are all kinds of accessories for hearing aids. Some of the accessories work in connection with your hearing aid to help it perform better. Other products do their best to improve the life of your hearing aid. In addition, other accessories use light and vibration to alert you. Hearing aids are not the bulky things they used to be. There has been many technological advancements, and there will continue to be more breakthroughs making your life more enjoyable. Please get in touch so we can tell you more!