Warning: "Hearing loss without hearing impairment"

Deafness is familiar to us. It is a state of severe hearing loss that has led to communication barriers, such as not being able to hear others clearly, or not responding to others' words, and needing others to shout loudly to hear... etc. These are common phenomena of hearing impairment. However, many people have hearing loss but no hearing impairment or no communication barriers. Data from the World Hearing Report shows that 1/5 of the world's population has varying degrees of hearing loss. Among them, most people have hearing loss but no hearing impairment.

Let's take a look at the latest WHO hearing loss classification table:

The biggest change in the table is that the hearing threshold of the normal hearing range is adjusted down to 20dBHL, which is 5dBHL lower than the original normal hearing range. This is very noteworthy. It shows that the original hearing threshold within 25dBHL is considered normal hearing. According to the new standard, the hearing threshold of 25dBHL is considered mild hearing loss. Another value worth noting is the addition of a threshold difference ≥ 15dB as a reference value for judging hearing loss, that is, using the individual's own threshold change as a trend monitor for hearing loss. For example, the individual's previous hearing threshold was 5dBHL, and now the hearing threshold is 20dBHL, with a difference of 15dB. Although the hearing threshold is within the normal range, it shows that the hearing is beginning to lose and the sensitivity is beginning to degenerate... Because most people have good hearing sensitivity and low hearing thresholds when they are young, but with the increase of age, some people begin to lose hearing. Due to individual differences, the degree and speed of hearing loss are different, showing different levels of hearing loss in the above table, and the states described by individuals with different degrees of hearing loss are also different.

If you don’t use precision hearing testing equipment to detect hearing thresholds when hearing loss just begins, you won’t be able to find signs of hearing loss. Only when hearing loss reaches a certain severity can regular hearing testing equipment detect obvious hearing loss characteristics.

It is worth noting that individuals are unable to monitor their own hearing status through self-perception. They usually seek medical attention only when they experience severe discomfort in their ears, at which time hearing loss is discovered through hearing tests.

In the data from the otolaryngology clinic, we found that among people with various hearing loss conditions, the proportion of deafness and disabling hearing loss is close to 10%, which is also the hearing loss condition that everyone is more concerned about. The number of people with a hearing threshold within 20dB is less than 20%. 62.1% of the people have a hearing loss level between normal and deafness, which we call "incomplete hearing loss". Among these people, high-frequency hearing loss is more, and the hearing threshold of the frequency band used to recognize speech is within the range of mild to moderate hearing loss.

Since the normal speech loudness is within 50dB～65dBHL, people with mild to moderate hearing loss will not feel any communication barriers. People with high-frequency hearing loss will not feel any hearing loss at all if they do not have tinnitus or stuffy ears and do not undergo detailed hearing testing.

The perception of not having hearing impairment masks the fact of hearing loss, which is worthy of vigilance. First, hearing loss is normal, and we can maintain our hearing, slow down the rate of hearing loss, and reduce deafness or disabling hearing loss. Second, hearing loss can lead to a variety of hearing problems such as tinnitus, hearing hypersensitivity, stuffy ears, etc., which expands the scope of the adverse effects of hearing loss. Some clinical data show that hearing loss is common among people with tinnitus, and most of the tinnitus loudness is positively correlated with the degree of hearing loss.

Hearing loss has occurred, but the person cannot feel it. Hearing loss usually continues to worsen until hearing impairment or even hearing disability occurs. In this case, hearing aids or cochlear implants are needed to "restore hearing"...

So, how should we protect our hearing?

1. Check your hearing regularly to detect hearing loss early;

2. Reduce excessive acoustic stimulation;

3. Learn the correct hearing care knowledge through formal channels, and do not believe in hearsay or unfounded folk remedies;

4. If you feel any discomfort in your ears, such as pain, itching, numbness, etc., please go to a regular hospital to see a professional doctor as soon as possible. Parents should not ignore children's expression of ear discomfort.

5. If the patient has already experienced hearing loss, it is necessary to establish correct auditory rehabilitation awareness to avoid further hearing damage. Hearing-impaired patients can use hearing aids, coded headphones and other auxiliary listening devices to reshape auditory perception according to the advice of otolaryngologists and audiologists.