Degree of Hearing Loss
A categorical classification of hearing impairment severity based on pure-tone average thresholds, ranging from normal through slight, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound.
Full Definition
Various professional bodies and researchers have proposed classification schemes for degree of hearing loss; the most widely cited in clinical audiology are those from Clark (1981) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Categories typically run from 'normal' (0–15 or 0–25 dB HL, depending on the scheme) through 'profound' (≥90 dB HL). Editors reviewing audiological reports must apply the classification scheme consistently throughout a document and flag discrepancies between numerical thresholds and the categorical label applied. The labels themselves vary across schemes—some include 'slight' as a distinct category, others do not—so editors should confirm which scheme the author is referencing and apply it uniformly.
Usage
Usage note: Do not capitalise the category names (mild, moderate, severe, etc.) unless beginning a sentence. Always specify the classification scheme cited when reporting degree of hearing loss in research articles.
In Context
- "At 70 dB HL PTA, the patient's degree of hearing loss was classified as severe under the Clark (1981) criteria." — Audiological evaluation report
- "Editors should verify that the degree-of-hearing-loss label matches the numerical threshold according to the stated classification system." — Editorial quality checklist