What level of hearing loss requires hearing aids? Levels or types

Hearing loss is a common condition that often develops gradually with age, though it can also be triggered by injury, prolonged noise exposure, or physical blockages such as earwax or fluid in the ear. In the UK, many people live with hearing difficulties without realising the extent of the problem, often seeking help only when the effects become more disruptive. By this stage, hearing aids are usually the most effective solution.

But when is the right time to start using a hearing aid? The answer varies from person to person. Factors such as the severity of hearing loss, your daily lifestyle, and personal preferences all play a role. Generally, hearing aids are recommended for people with mild to severe hearing loss. For example, mild loss may make softer sounds harder to detect, while severe loss can make even louder noises unclear.

If you have started noticing changes in your hearing—struggling in conversations, turning up the TV, or finding noisy environments overwhelming— our guide will drive you through suitable treatment options, including whether a hearing aid would benefit you.

Does mild hearing loss need hearing aid​​s? Let's find out. Mild hearing loss is usually defined as difficulty hearing sounds between 21 and 40 decibels. This means soft sounds, like whispers, distant voices, or conversations in noisy environments, can be harder to catch. For some people, these difficulties may seem minor, but even mild hearing loss can affect daily life. You may find yourself asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the volume on the television, or feeling tired from straining to follow conversations.

Whether you need a hearing aid depends on how much your hearing loss impacts your communication and quality of life. Many people with mild hearing loss benefit from hearing aids, as they make speech clearer and reduce listening effort, particularly in busy places like restaurants or group settings. In the UK, the NHS hearing aids are typically offered when hearing loss interferes with everyday communication. Private providers may recommend them earlier if you’re experiencing challenges at work, in social situations, or with loved ones. If you suspect mild hearing loss, the best step is to book a professional hearing test. An audiologist can measure your hearing accurately and advise whether a hearing aid would help.

• Children’s hearing plays a crucial role in speech, language, and social development, so even mild hearing loss can have a significant impact. In general, hearing aids are recommended for children when their hearing loss is enough to interfere with daily communication and learning.
• Normal hearing is defined as thresholds up to 20 decibels (dB). A child with mild hearing loss (21–40 dB) may struggle to hear soft speech, particularly in noisy environments. Although some may cope, many benefit from hearing aids to support language development. Moderate hearing loss (41–70 dB) almost always requires amplification, as children will miss a large portion of spoken words, affecting vocabulary growth and classroom learning.
• Children with severe hearing loss (71–90 dB) need hearing aids to access spoken language, though some may also require cochlear implants if amplification alone is insufficient. Profound hearing loss (91 dB or greater) usually necessitates cochlear implants, often in combination with hearing aids, to provide full auditory access.
• Ultimately, any level of permanent hearing loss in a child should be evaluated by an audiologist. Early fitting of hearing aids, even in mild cases, helps ensure children develop strong communication, academic, and social skills. Read more about this topic in our article about hearing aids for children.

Hearing capacity refers to the ability of the auditory system to detect and process sounds at different volumes and frequencies. It is usually measured in decibels Hearing Level (dB HL) during a hearing test, where an audiologist checks the quietest sounds you can hear across various pitches. This measurement helps determine whether your hearing falls within the normal range or shows signs of hearing loss. Normal hearing capacity is typically between 0 and 20 dB HL, meaning you can detect very soft sounds, such as a ticking clock or quiet conversation. When hearing capacity decreases, it is categorised into ranges:

• Mild hearing loss (21–40 dB HL): Difficulty hearing soft speech or whispers.
• Moderate hearing loss (41–70 dB HL): Struggles with everyday conversations, especially in background noise.
• Severe hearing loss (71–95 dB HL): Even loud speech is difficult to understand without amplification.
• Profound hearing loss (95+ dB HL): Only very loud sounds may be audible.

Understanding your hearing capacity provides a benchmark for monitoring changes over time and guides whether treatments, such as hearing aids, may be beneficial. A professional hearing test is the most accurate way to assess your capacity.

Hearing loss is the partial or complete inability to perceive sounds in one or both ears. It is classified according to the part of the auditory system that is affected, with three main types: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed hearing loss. A healthy ear can typically detect sounds ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, known as the dynamic range. Most speech occurs between 500 Hz and 6 kHz, but the ability to hear higher frequencies enhances sound clarity and quality. Normal hearing is considered to be within 0–20 dB HL across the speech range, while a loss of 25 dB HL or more in one ear is categorised as hearing loss.

Hearing loss severity is typically assessed in two key ways:

• Loudness: How strong a sound must be before you can hear it.
• Pitch (frequency): Which sound frequencies are hardest to detect.

Below are the main categories of hearing loss, with examples of the types of sounds that may become difficult or impossible to hear at each stage.

In the UK, there isn’t a fixed threshold for when a hearing aid becomes necessary. The decision is based on your personal needs and how much hearing loss is affecting your everyday life. You may benefit from a hearing aid if you notice:

• Difficulty following conversations, particularly in noisy places.
• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves.
• Feeling left out or withdrawn because of communication challenges.
• Turning up the TV or radio to volumes others find too loud.
• Struggling to hear clearly on the telephone.
• Finding it tiring to keep up in meetings or social situations.

If these signs sound familiar, scheduling a hearing test is the best next step. An audiologist can evaluate your hearing and suggest the most suitable solution.

1. The first step in your hearing assessment involves taking a detailed medical history and completing a lifestyle questionnaire. This helps identify possible causes of hearing loss and ensures we understand your needs.
2. We then perform a video-otoscopy, capturing images of the ear canal and eardrum (tympanic membrane) to check their health and confirm it’s safe to continue testing.
3. Next, we evaluate how you process sound with speech tests, where you listen to and repeat word lists. Because difficulty hearing in noisy environments is the most common reason people book a hearing test, we also conduct a speech-in-noise test. During this, you hear recorded sentences through headphones while background noise gradually increases. Your ability to correctly repeat these sentences gives us a percentage score of how well you hear in real-world conditions.
4. The core of the assessment is the audiometric test, carried out in a soundproof booth. Pure tones are played through headphones, and you press a button whenever you hear a sound. Results are charted on an audiogram. A bone conduction test may follow to identify whether the hearing loss is sensorineural or conductive.
5. If required, a tympanogram will be performed. This measures middle ear function by applying gentle pressure and sound into the canal to record the ear’s response, especially useful for diagnosing conductive and mixed hearing loss.

Tinnitus, often described as ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears, affects many people and can range from mildly distracting to severely disruptive. While tinnitus is not a condition itself but a symptom, it is commonly linked with hearing loss. For this reason, hearing aids are frequently considered as part of a management plan. If you have hearing loss as well as tinnitus, a hearing aid can make a significant difference. By amplifying external sounds, hearing aids reduce the contrast between environmental noise and the internal ringing sensation, helping the brain to focus less on the tinnitus. Many modern hearing aids also include built-in sound therapy features, such as soothing tones or masking sounds, which provide additional relief. However, not everyone with tinnitus needs a hearing aid. If your hearing test shows little or no measurable hearing loss, other approaches may be more suitable, including sound therapy devices, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or lifestyle changes that help reduce stress and improve sleep. The first step is to have a full hearing assessment with an audiologist. They can determine whether a hearing aid would be beneficial and recommend the best treatment options to manage tinnitus effectively.