If you’ve recently had a hearing test, you may have been handed a chart full of lines, numbers, and symbols and wondered what it all means. Audiograms can look intimidating at first glance, but once you understand the basics, they’re actually a helpful and straightforward tool.
This guide breaks down how to read an audiogram in plain language, so you can better understand your hearing results and what they mean for everyday life.
And remember: Your audiologist will be happy to answer any questions about your test!
What Is an Audiogram?
An audiogram is a visual chart that shows how well you hear different sounds. It measures:
- Pitch (how high or low a sound is)
- Loudness (how soft or loud a sound must be before you hear it)
Hearing professionals use audiograms to identify hearing loss, determine its severity, and guide treatment recommendations.
The Horizontal Axis: Pitch (Frequency)
The left-to-right axis on an audiogram represents pitch, measured in hertz (Hz).
- Low-pitched sounds (like thunder or a bass drum) appear on the left
- High-pitched sounds (like birds chirping or consonants such as S, F, and TH) appear on the right
Speech sounds span multiple pitches, which is why hearing loss in certain frequency ranges can affect clarity, even if some sounds are still audible.
The Vertical Axis: Loudness (Intensity)
The vertical axis measures loudness, in decibels (dB).
- Softer sounds are at the top
- Louder sounds appear toward the bottom
This scale works a bit differently than you might expect. A lower number means better hearing, while a higher number indicates that a louder sound is needed to hear.
What Do Audiogram Symbols Mean?
Audiograms use symbols to show how each ear hears.
Common symbols include:
- O (red): Right ear
- X (blue): Left ear
Each symbol marks the softest sound you were able to hear at a specific pitch during the test.
Lines connecting the symbols help show overall hearing patterns across frequencies.
What Is a Hearing Threshold?
Your hearing threshold is the quietest sound you can hear at each pitch. These thresholds are grouped into ranges:
- Normal hearing: 0–25 dB
- Mild hearing loss: 26–40 dB
- Moderate hearing loss: 41–55 dB
- Moderately severe hearing loss: 56–70 dB
- Severe hearing loss: 71–90 dB
- Profound hearing loss: 90+ dB
Your audiogram may show different levels at different pitches, which is very common.
Why Speech Understanding is Key
One of the most important things an audiogram reveals is how hearing loss may affect speech.
High-frequency hearing loss often makes speech sound muffled or unclear, especially in noisy environments. Vowels may be audible, but consonants (the sounds that add clarity) can be harder to hear.
This explains why someone might say: “I can hear people talking, but I can’t understand what they’re saying.”
Bone vs. Air Conduction
Some audiograms include additional symbols that test sound transmission through the bones of the skull. This helps determine where hearing loss occurs:
- In the outer or middle ear
- In the inner ear or auditory nerve
Your provider will explain this if it applies to your results.
What an Audiogram Does Not Tell You
While audiograms are incredibly useful, they don’t capture everything about your hearing experience. They don’t fully measure:
- Listening effort
- Hearing in noisy environments
- Fatigue from straining to hear
That’s why your symptoms and daily experiences matter just as much as the chart itself.
Reviewing Audiogram Results With a Professional
Learning how to read and understand an audiogram is empowering, but interpretation should always happen with a qualified hearing professional. They can explain:
- What your results mean for daily communication
- Whether treatment is recommended
- What options may fit your lifestyle and needs
Hearing care is personal, and an audiogram is just one part of the conversation.
Understanding Your Audiogram: A Tool for Clarity
An audiogram is best understood as a snapshot. Receiving it helps you ask better questions and feel more confident about your hearing health.
If you’ve ever looked at your audiogram results and felt unsure of what they were telling you, that’s totally understandable. But with the right explanation, that chart becomes a useful guide toward clearer hearing and stronger connections.
If you’d like to schedule an audiogram or talk more about what it means, contact our care team at SoundEar Audiology today. We’re here to help make things as clear as possible!