How to read an audiogram

During an audiometry hearing test, audiologists will look for the softest volume of sound which the listeners can hear at different frequencies (low pitches to high pitches). An audiogram is a chart that contains a visual representation of the outcome of that test. It can diagnose the degree and type of hearing loss in each ear. The results from the audiogram help the audiologist to understand and counsel their patients on hearing related issues.

On the audiogram, you will see a series of O and X, which represent the hearing measured through air conduction. The red O shows how well you can hear in your right ear and the blue X shows how well you can hear in your left ear.

On the audiogram: the X-axis (horizontal) measures the frequency of the sound while the Y-axis (vertical) measures the intensity of the sound.

You will also see a series of < [ and > ]. The brackets represent the hearing measured through bone conduction which tell us how our hearing nerve is hearing.  < [ is the result from your right ear measured with bone conduction and > ] is the result from your left ear measured with bone conduction and

The X-axis (horizontal) measures the frequency of the sound. Frequency, or pitch, is measured in hertz (Hz), from low to high pitched. Low pitched sounds are on the left and higher pitched sounds are on the right, just like on a piano keyboard. For example, low-frequency sounds include the sounds of deep male voices and high-frequency sounds include the sounds of bird chirping.

The Y-axis (vertical) measures the intensity of the sound. Intensity, or loudness, is measured in decibels (dB), from quiet at the top to loud at the bottom.The louder sounds are toward the bottom and softer sounds are toward the top of the graph. The lower down the chart, the higher the decibels and the louder the volume.  For example, low-decibel sounds include whispers and high-decibel sounds include airplane engines.

The degree of hearing loss is determined by the location of the symbols on the audiogram. If the symbols are located mostly at the top of the audiogram, below 25dB HL, then hearing is considered normal. The higher up the y-axis, the more sensitive the hearing. However, if the threshold falls below this 25dB HL line, then a hearing loss is present.

The lower the symbols are plotted on the audiogram, the louder the sounds needed to be before the listener can hear them, and the poorer the hearing sensitivity is.

You will find a line connecting your symbols (threshold levels), right and left ear respectively. Areas above the line are the sounds that you cannot hear, while areas below the line are the sounds you can hear. A line lower on the chart indicates a more extreme hearing loss.