Understanding your audiogram

You may find it challenging to hear the following:

• Soft speech sounds and words, especially in noisy environments
• High-pitched sounds, such as birds chirping, the beeping of a microwave, or the sound of a child's voice
• Faint sounds that are distant or quiet, such as a clock ticking or a car passing in the distance.
• High-frequency, consonant sounds, such as "s", "f", "th", and "sh"
• Individual instruments or notes in music, making it harder to enjoy music fully.

You will most likely begin to find it difficult hearing sounds, especially the higher-pitched frequency. You may have to ask people to repeat themselves more often and gradually find it challenging to hear even normal conversations, making it harder to participate in group discussions. You may find it challenging to hear the following:

• The sound of a television or radio at normal volume
• Consonants such as "s," "f," and "th" in speech, which are important for understanding the meaning of words
• Soft-spoken individuals or children's voices
• Conversations in noisy environments, such as restaurants or parties
• High-frequency sounds, such as the chirping of birds or the rustling of leaves
• Certain musical instruments, such as violins and flutes, which produce high-frequency sounds
• Alarm clocks and other high-pitched alerts, which may not be audible without assistance from hearing aids or other devices.

You may struggle to hear certain sounds, particularly high-frequency sounds. These include:

• Birds chirping
• Doorbells and telephones ringing
• High-pitched voices, particularly those of women and children
• Whistles or beeps
• High-frequency consonant sounds, such as "s," "sh," "f," and "th"
• Certain musical instruments, such as flutes and piccolos
• The sound of rustling leaves or grass
• Water dripping or running
• Some consonant sounds, such as "s" and "f" in speech

Even though you can still hear some loud noises, you may have difficulty hearing a wide range of sounds, including many low and high-frequency sounds. Communicating with others is no longer possible, even when you make an increased effort to hear. You can no longer hear sounds under 91 dB.  Examples of sounds that may be hard to hear include:

• Low-pitched voices, particularly those of men
• Deep bass notes in music
• Thunder and other loud, low-frequency noises
• The sound of a car engine or other machinery
• Footsteps and other soft, low-volume sounds
• High-pitched alarms and sirens
• Consonant sounds such as "s" and "f" in speech, which carry important information about meaning and context.
• The subtle nuances of speech, such as tone, inflection, and emotion, which can be difficult to discern without hearing all the frequencies of speech sounds.

An audiogram is a graph that shows the results of a hearing test, with the horizontal axis representing frequency (measured in hertz) and the vertical axis representing the hearing threshold (measured in decibels).

An audiogram is a graph that shows the degree of a person’s hearing loss. Hearing thresholds (measured in decibels) are plotted at various frequencies (measured in hertz) and can show if a person’s hearing loss is symmetric or asymmetric as well as if the hearing loss is more severe at high or low frequencies.

Hearing loss is classified according to the severity of the hearing loss at different frequencies. Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe or profound.

An audiogram is read by identifying the two lines on the graph, one for each ear. The line on the left represents the left ear, and the line on the right represents the right ear. The shape of the line shows the degree of hearing loss and the specific frequencies affected.

The speech reception threshold is the softest level of sound at which a person can understand speech. It is generally plotted as a dashed line on an audiogram. The difference between this line and the hearing threshold line is known as the speech discrimination score.

Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, noise exposure, ototoxic medications, and certain illnesses. Keep in mind that an audiogram is just one part of a full hearing evaluation. It’s important to consult with your doctor or Hearing Care Professional to determine the cause and appropriate treatment for your hearing loss.