Whether a hearing level of 20 dB constitutes "bad" hearing loss depends on the context and how it affects a person's ability to hear. Based on the reference information, 20 dB is the sound level of a watch ticking.
Understanding Decibel Levels and Hearing
The reference provides a scale of decibel (dB) levels and associated sounds:
| Decibel Level (dB) | Sound Example |
|---|---|
| 10 dB | Normal breathing |
| 20 dB | Watch ticking |
| 30 dB | Soft whispers |
| 40-60 dB | Normal conversation |
Interpreting 20 dB Hearing Loss
The reference states "Stage 1: Mild hearing loss". A 20 dB hearing level means you can hear sounds at 20 dB, such as a watch ticking. Therefore, having 20dB hearing level is not bad - it's a normal to good hearing threshold.
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Normal Hearing: An individual with normal hearing can hear sounds at this level. They are able to hear soft sounds such as watch ticking.
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Hearing Loss: However, if an audiogram reveals that a person needs sounds to be louder than 20 dB to hear them, that indicates some degree of hearing loss. Requiring sounds to be above 20dB to be audible would suggest a mild hearing loss, according to the references.
Implications
If someone can't hear sounds at 20 dB, they may have difficulty hearing:
- Soft speech
- Quiet environmental sounds
- Whispers
