Hearing Loss Percentage Calculator

Work out hearing loss percentage instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Hearing Loss Percentage Calculator

Applies the AAO-HNS and AMA method: each ear's impairment is 1.5 percent per decibel above a 25 dB low fence, weighted five to one in favour of the better ear.

Formula

AMA binaural impairment

Monaural % = (four-frequency average dB - 25) x 1.5, capped at 100; binaural % = (5 x better ear + worse ear) / 6; whole person % = binaural x 0.35

Worked example

With the default values below, Hearing Loss Percentage Calculator returns Binaural hearing impairment of 20.00%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Better ear four-frequency averageaccepts 0–120 dB HL: 35 dB HL
Worse ear four-frequency averageaccepts 0–120 dB HL: 55 dB HL

Results

Binaural hearing impairment: 20.00%
Better ear impairment: 15.0%
Worse ear impairment: 45.0%
Whole person impairment: 7.00%

Step by step

1Values used
2AMA binaural impairment
3Binaural hearing impairment= 20.00
4Better ear impairment= 15.0
5Worse ear impairment= 45.0
6Whole person impairment= 7.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.
This is an estimate for general information and not professional medical advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which frequencies are averaged?

500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz in the AAO-HNS and AMA method.

Why a 25 dB low fence?

Thresholds up to 25 dB are treated as causing no measurable impairment of everyday speech understanding.