HearingAidMatch

By severity

Severe hearing loss

PTA 71–90 dB HL (Pure Tone Average at 500, 1000, 2000 Hz)

Audiologist-dispensed prescription hearing aids required. OTC and Costco do not provide sufficient gain. Consider BTE or Power BTE form factors.

US prevalence

1.8M

Americans with severe hearing loss

Source: NIDCD

What you typically experience

  • Cannot hear conversation at any normal volume
  • Lipreading required for most communication
  • Phone calls impossible without amplification

Recommended device classes

  • ✓ Independent audiologist fitting

This severity is beyond what most Costco aids can handle. An audiologist will fit with appropriate Power BTE or BTE form factors.

Adjacent severities

Mild hearing lossMild-to-moderate hearing lossModerate hearing lossModerately severe hearing lossProfound hearing loss

Next step

For a personalized device-class recommendation with matched products, run your audiogram through the interpreter. If you already have a Costco Kirkland aid and want to know who made it, use the Translator.

Last reviewed June 2026. Severity classification per NIDCD. HearingAidMatch provides general guidance based on FDA, NIDCD, and manufacturer-published data. Not medical advice. Verified severity at midpoint: Severe hearing loss.