Understanding Your Audiogram

If you or your loved one has just had a hearing test performed by a hearing care professional (or if you are planning to have one in the near future), you will receive the results as an audiogram. An audiogram is a graph that outlines your hearing capabilities as lines and symbols. Once you learn how to follow the graph, you will have a much better understanding of your hearing loss. Learning about the specific sounds that are not audible will help you and your hearing care provider develop an action plan to help you get back to enjoying the sounds of everyday life.

A hearing test measures your hearing sensitivity in each ear. The audiogram plots your hearing thresholds in each ear at different frequencies (or pitches) in a quiet listening environment. A hearing threshold is defined as the softest sound you can detect at least 50 percent of the time. 

On the example audiogram, frequency in Hertz (Hz) is shown at the top of the graph, left to right, from low to high-pitch sounds. Your hearing threshold level in decibels (dB) is shown on the left, from quietest sounds at the top going to loudest as we go down to the bottom. Each symbol on the chart represents your threshold for a given frequency. The lower the symbol on the graph, the greater your hearing loss at that frequency. Because each ear is tested independently, the red “O” symbol represents the right ear and the blue “X” symbol represents the left ear.

Example Audiogram

Hearing loss is classified as mild, moderate, moderate-to-severe, severe, or profound. The audiogram shows a mild-to-severe, high-frequency hearing loss from 2000-8000 Hz in both ears, because the lines for each ear dip below the normal threshold as marked on the right side of the graph. In this example, the sounds of birds chirping, people whispering, women and children’s voices, and other high-pitched sounds will be difficult to hear. Your hearing care professional can explain your specific hearing loss (including additional symbols not described here) and if appropriate, recommend hearing aids that can be customized to meet your needs. 

If you still have questions or concerns, talk to your hearing care professional. If you haven’t been tested and think you have hearing loss, don’t wait. Find a Sonic hearing care professional and get your own audiogram. Once you understand your hearing loss and all the treatments available, Everyday Sounds Better.

To book your hearing assessment today, contact your local Sonic partner clinic