Audiogram
An audiogram is a graph that displays the results of a hearing test. It maps a person's hearing thresholds across a range of frequencies (pitches), typically from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz, at different intensity levels measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL).
The horizontal axis represents frequency, moving from low pitches on the left to high pitches on the right. The vertical axis represents loudness, with softer sounds at the top and louder sounds toward the bottom. Each ear is tested separately. Right ear results are typically marked with circles (O) and left ear results with X marks. Normal hearing falls between 0 and 25 dB HL across the tested frequencies. Results outside that range indicate some degree of hearing loss at those frequencies.
An audiologist uses the audiogram to determine the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss. This profile guides decisions about hearing aid fittings, medical referrals, and cochlear implant candidacy.
