What is your Normal Baseline Hearing Threshold? How Is Your Hearing?

What is your normal baseline hearing threshold?

Your baseline hearing threshold can serve as your future reference point to compare against future hearing tests. It is your earliest starting point for your hearing threshold levels. Normal thresholds across a standard frequency spectrum of 250Hz to 8kHz is expected to be less than 20dBHL if tested in clinically controlled environments.

Despite 1 in 4 people currently living with hearing loss. It is still uncommon for people to check their hearing. Dental, visual and physical checks are commonly performed but not ears. Hopefully with more accessible information, social media reach and increasing awareness this practice may change as more audiologists come forward and are more easily accessed for their professional hearing health expertise.

Knowing your baseline hearing threshold can be useful for comparing with your latest hearing thresholds following significant health related changes. 

Here are some examples below. 

A.) Occupational Noise exposure.

Employees at risk of noise-induced hearing loss following significant exposure to noise should already have annual hearing tests done routinely. Self employed contractors may need to arrange annual hearing checks.

B.) Insurance claims

Following accidents involving physical trauma. If trying to compare the effect of the accident on one's hearing prior to the accident. 

C.)Illness 

Certain medications, treatments and even illnesses can result in one having a hearing loss. e.g. Chemotherapy, Use of certain intravenous antibiotics, some viruses

D.) General awareness to guide future habits 

If one is aware of their hearing threshold status, they are more likely to consciously take steps to maintain those levels. e.g. Protect against noise using ear defenders of custom ear plug, they may show cautious use of personal listening devices. They may take particular steps to keep their ears clean. 

E.) Tinnitus 

If tinnitus suddenly presents itself it can be easier to see if there has been a change in hearing sensitivity (by comparing baseline thresholds with present) and in turn a change in the auditory system which may be the cause of the tinnitus. Tinnitus can be induced by one or a combination of factors but a disorder within the auditory system is one of the most common causes to date. (Up to 80%people with hearing losses present with tinnitus.)

Otoacoustic emissons (OAE) and higher audiometry frequency testing may reveal further information on one's hearing sensitivity. 

F.) If a hearing loss is found

The earlier this is found the easier it is to adapt to treatment with amplification. Untreated hearing losses can lead to an increased risk for cognitive decline, depression, isolation, loss of earnings amongst other factors. Check your hearing and ask your audiologist for a recommended testing period as this may vary person by person, Depending on the hearing loss type, severity, medical history including genetic history and lifestyle. 

Contact Us at Sonant Hearing for a full hearing assessment soon if you have not done a hearing test before to establish your baseline hearing thresholds. 07922 153134