Hearing Loss

Last updated on December 1, 2017

About Hearing Loss

A person is defined as being hard of hearing when his or her hearing loss ranges from mild to profound and when his or her usual means of communication is speech.

Excerpt from HealthLink BC:

Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual decrease in how well you can hear. Depending on the cause, it can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

If you have hearing loss, you may not be aware of it, especially if it has happened over time. Your family members or friends may notice that you're having trouble understanding what others are saying.

Learn more at:

Helpful Organizations and Information Resources

Canadian Hard of Hearing Society

For information about classes in your area that teach speech reading (also known as “lip reading”) and other coping skills, visit the British Columbia chapter of:

The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH)

If you are experiencing difficulties with your hearing, WIDHH is a British Columbian nonprofit that assists with Audiology, Counselling, Interpreting, and Communication Devices. For more information, please visit www.widhh.com.

Related Information

For more information about ways you can prevent disease and injury or care for specific medical conditions, see: