The figure below shows where common environmental and speech sounds typically fall, by pitch (left to right, low to high) and loudness (top to bottom, soft to loud). Sounds above your hearing line on the chart are sounds you’re missing.
Levels of Hearing Loss
| Degree | Hearing threshold |
|---|---|
| Mild | 25 – 40 dB HL |
| Moderate | 41 – 55 dB HL |
| Moderately severe | 56 – 70 dB HL |
| Severe | 71 – 90 dB HL |
| Profound | 90+ dB HL |
Many speech sounds — like “f,” “s” and “th” — are soft and high-pitched, which is why people with high-frequency hearing loss often say they can hear voices but can’t make out the words.
Get Your Own Audiogram
Your audiogram comes from a hearing assessment in our sound-treated booth, and we review it with you the same day. Learn more about the types of hearing loss.