Even though you can still hear some loud noises, you may have difficulty hearing a wide range of sounds, including many low and high-frequency sounds. Communicating with others is no longer possible, even when you make an increased effort to hear. You can no longer hear sounds under 91 dB.  Examples of sounds that may be hard to hear include:
Low-pitched voices, particularly those of men
Deep bass notes in music
Thunder and other loud, low-frequency noises
The sound of a car engine or other machinery
Footsteps and other soft, low-volume sounds
High-pitched alarms and sirens
Consonant sounds such as "s" and "f" in speech, which carry important information about meaning and context.
The subtle nuances of speech, such as tone, inflection, and emotion, which can be difficult to discern without hearing all the frequencies of speech sounds.