If you recently had a hearing test, you probably received a sheet filled with lines, symbols, and numbers. This sheet is called an audiogram. While it can initially look confusing, an audiogram holds valuable information about your hearing health. Learning how to read an audiogram can help you better understand your hearing test results and what steps are needed next.
Whether you are dealing with hearing changes or helping out a loved one, this guide will explain audiograms in clear and straightforward terms.
What is an Audiogram?
An audiogram is a chart that shows how well you can hear different types of sounds. It maps your hearing ability across a range of pitches, or frequencies, and volumes, intensities. The test is painless, quick, and typically done in a quiet room using headphones.
The results will determine if you have hearing loss, how severe it is if it is present, and what kind of support may be helpful. Support could be anything from medical treatment to hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Reading the Basics of the Chart
The audiogram has two main parts: the top and bottom lines of the chart show pitch, measured in hertz (Hz), from low (on the left) to high (on the right). The side axis shows volume, measured in decibels (dB), from quiet sounds at the top to louder sounds at the bottom.
Each ear is tested separately. The right ear is marked with a red circle or triangle, and the left ear is marked with a blue X or square. The lower the symbols fall on the chart, the louder the sound will be for you to hear.
What Do the Results Mean?
Your audiogram will show your hearing threshold. This is just a fancy way of saying the softest sound you can hear at each pitch. These thresholds are then grouped into categories. The categories are as follows:
- Normal hearing: 0 to 25 dB
- Mild hearing loss: 26 to 40 dB
- Moderate hearing loss: 41 to 55 dB
- Moderately severe: 56 to 70 dB
- Severe: 71 to 90 dB
- Profound: 91 dB and above
These numbers help determine how much hearing loss you have and which sounds may be hard for you to pick up, like speech, alarms, or music.
Frequency and Everyday Sounds
Frequencies then tell us which sounds you hear well and which you will likely miss. For example:
- Low pitches (250–500 Hz): thunder, vowel sounds
- Mid pitches (1000–2000 Hz): most speech sounds
- High pitches (3000–8000 Hz): birds, doorbells, consonants like “s” and “f”
If your audiogram demonstrates hearing loss in high frequencies, you may struggle to hear the voices of young children or understand speech when in a noisy environment.
Speech Testing and Word Recognition
In addition to different tones, many hearing exams include speech testing. This shows how well you can understand spoken words when they are said at a comfortable volume. This creates a word recognition score or speech discrimination level.
A lower score means you may hear sounds but not fully be able to understand what is being said. This is especially problematic in noisy places. This can help explain why hearing loss is not just about volume; it includes clarity.
What Happens Next?
Your audiogram is more than a test result; it is a guide to your hearing care. It helps to determine if assistive devices, hearing aids, or further medical testing are necessary. For many, it also brings answers and relief after months or years of struggling to hear clearly.
If you have questions about your results, it is essential to talk through your chart with a hearing professional who can explain everything clearly and in simplified terms.
Your Hearing Health
An audiogram is a powerful tool that tells the story of your current hearing health or creates a baseline for future testing. Once you understand what it shows, you can take the next right step toward better communication and a more connected life. Do not be intimidated by the chart; it is just a map of what your ears experience in the world. With the proper support, you can make that world sound clearer and be more enjoyable.
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