From the moment we are old enough to hear sounds, our brains are using waves of energy to understand the world around us. Moments like hearing our baby’s first cries to developing a taste in music are vitally important. It can be disheartening when hearing loss on any level is developed, as it is to some degree a disability.
To those experiencing hearing loss, this isn’t a matter of debate; however, specific questions need answering.
Is this legally considered a disability that will qualify me for federal aid?
What is the extent of my hearing loss, and is it severe?
Is there affordable treatment available?
All of these are valid concerns for anyone experiencing hearing loss.
Because we utilize sound so much in our daily lives, this could pose severe impairments for those who experience extreme hearing loss. Having to learn how to interact with the world around you and communicate with people directly can pose large and daunting challenges if you are experiencing hearing loss.
Let’s learn more about hearing loss as a disability with Audien.
Different Levels of Hearing
Not all health conditions are identical, and it is possible to suffer from light hearing impairment to severe, or even total loss of hearing altogether.
Currently, there are five categories of hearing loss. The degrees of hearing loss have been categorized according to the decibel (dB) level recognizable. The threshold works because sounds must reach a certain dB to be recognizable, and everything under that decibel threshold cannot be recognized. As a person’s hearing continues to diminish, their dB threshold will continue to increase.
Let's take a look at the five categories of hearing loss and how to recognize them.
Mild
A normal hearing range has a threshold from 0 to 25 decibels. This range of hearing is where sounds from nature or someone talking would not be recognizable. Mild hearing loss is just outside of that range with a dB threshold of 46 to 40 dB.
While there are sounds that mild hearing loss will render unrecognizable, this level of hearing loss is not considered to qualify for government aid as a disability.
Moderate
At this level of hearing loss, you may experience challenges with understanding normal conversation, but you can typically recognize clear speech. The threshold for moderate hearing loss is around 41 to 55 dB.
Moderate Severe
This level of hearing loss has a threshold of 56 to 70 dB and can be recognized as a disability that qualifies for government financial aid. At this level, you will have trouble understanding normal conversation; however, you should still be able to hear loud sounds like car horns or raised voices.
Severe
Severe hearing loss is considered to have a range of 71 to 90 dB. This level of hearing loss often requires learning sign language to communicate with others and learning how to read lips as it is very difficult to hear normal speech.
Profound
Profound hearing loss is considered a threshold of 90 dB and up. This is considered a very severe level of hearing loss, and without help from hearing aid devices, almost all individuals won’t be able to hear much at all.
Hearing Aid Options
Visiting an ENT specialist is essential in ruling out any medical reasons for hearing loss. Most medical insurance covers these visits, including an audiogram with an audiologist.
To apply for financial aid from the government, an individual will not only have to go through consultations and tests from medical care professionals, but they must specifically have a threshold of 60 dB. As we mentioned before, this means that individuals would need to have moderately severe hearing loss to qualify for financial help.
Developing Technology That Works for Less
Audien believes in offering people with hearing loss a reliable technology that is affordable and can help you improve your overall hearing. Visiting typical doctors and specialists that can administer tests and give you a specific diagnosis for your level of hearing loss can come with a hefty price tag.
To make things more affordable, we’ve cut out the middle man. We’ve done this by creating a unique product that can help improve your hearing on a daily basis. However, this does mean that Audien hearing aids will not be custom-engineered to your specific level of hearing loss.
We believe that no matter where you are in your journey with hearing loss, you should have access to quality technology that can help you hear your loved ones, safely navigate life, and get back to enjoying your life the way you used to.
Our team has worked hard to not only provide hearing aid equipment that is affordable and comfortable, but you’ll also have the ability to hear conversations clear as day.
Audien Hearing Aids
Our one-size-fits-all philosophy is a bold move to make genuine life-enhancing hearing equipment affordable for the majority of the people that need it. We believe in our product so much that we will give you a thirty-day trial period and a full refund if you don’t decide to keep them.
We have two models of hearing aids available: The EV1 pair and the EV3 pair. Depending on what your hearing needs are, both pairs offer different features.
Features
Depending on your hearing needs, we have two hearing aid options for you to choose from.
- 20 hours of sound per charge
- Four different tip sizes
- Rechargeable
- Cost: $89
- 26% smaller than the EV1 hearing aid pair
- 24 hours of sound per charge
- Six different tip sizes
- Rechargeable
- Cost: $249
While the benefits of having good medical insurance and assistance with attaining audiologist and specialized testing can help, there are more affordable options available like Audien hearing aids instead of the costly ones offered by audiologists.
We have already helped over 200,000 individuals who have given us raging reviews on how our product has helped support their hearing loss needs, and we would love to help you with yours.
Conclusion
Conditions like hearing loss can introduce drastic learning curves for those who experience them. Audien offers affordable hearing aids without the extra worry that expensive doctor visits and pricey specialist consultations will be in the equation.
"I would not discourage patients from seeing their ENT doctor in order to rule out any medical problems and having a good hearing test. The choice of which hearing aid to purchase is a personal one. Audien hearing aids provide a sound alternative to the costly ones offered by most audiologists." - Drew Sutton, MD, Board-Certified Otolaryngologist.
Our goal at Audien is to provide quality, life-changing aids for your hearing loss that will help your hearing improve on a daily basis. If you want to learn more about Audien Hearing and our products, give our website a visit.
Source:
Degrees of Hearing Loss | Hearing Health Foundation
What is hearing loss? Facts about the symptoms, causes & treatment | Hear it.org
How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits with Hearing Loss | Deafactioncenter.org
Everything You Need to Know About Hearing Aids and Tinnitus
