What Do the Numbers on My Hearing Test Results Actually Mean?
Getting a hearing test can give you valuable information about how well you hear different sounds, but the results can sometimes look like a collection of confusing numbers and symbols. Understanding your hearing test results can help you have a more productive conversation with your hearing care professional about your hearing health.
One of the most important parts of a hearing evaluation is the audiogram, which provides a visual representation of your hearing sensitivity.
What Is an Audiogram?
An audiogram is a graph that shows the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches. The horizontal axis represents frequency, measured in Hertz (Hz), while the vertical axis represents hearing level, measured in decibels (dB).
Frequency relates to pitch. Lower frequencies represent deeper sounds, such as some low-pitched voices, while higher frequencies correspond to higher-pitched sounds.
The decibel scale indicates how loud a sound needs to be for you to detect it. Sounds that appear higher on the audiogram are softer, while sounds farther down require greater intensity to be heard.
Types of Different Hearing Tests Near Fairfax, Virginia
At Fairfax Hearing Center, we offer a wide variety of hearing tests, including:
What Do the Numbers on My Hearing Test Results Mean?
The numbers on the vertical axis help indicate your hearing sensitivity. Your results show the softest level at which you can hear specific frequencies.
Generally, hearing sensitivity within the typical range is represented by thresholds around 0 to 20 dB. As the numbers increase, it indicates that a louder sound was necessary for you to detect that frequency.
Hearing loss can be categorized by degree, ranging from mild to profound. Your hearing professional will interpret your results across frequencies rather than relying on one number alone.
What Do the Different Frequencies Tell You?
The frequency numbers along the bottom of an audiogram typically range from lower pitches to higher pitches.
Testing several frequencies matters because hearing loss does not necessarily affect every pitch equally.
For example, someone may hear low-pitched sounds relatively well but have more difficulty detecting higher-pitched sounds. This can contribute to difficulty understanding speech, particularly when conversations occur in noisy environments.
Looking at the overall pattern helps your hearing professional understand the type and degree of hearing difficulty you may have.
What Do the Symbols on an Audiogram Mean?
An audiogram typically uses different symbols to distinguish results for each ear. One set of symbols represents the right ear, while another represents the left ear.
The symbols plotted across the graph show the hearing thresholds measured during testing.
Your provider may also perform bone-conduction testing, which helps determine whether hearing loss is related to problems involving the outer or middle ear or the inner ear and auditory system.
Why Are Hearing Test Results Important?
Your results do more than indicate whether you have hearing loss. They help your hearing care professional understand how your hearing is affected across different frequencies.
This information can help guide recommendations for hearing aids or other hearing solutions when appropriate.
Hearing can also change over time. Comparing a current audiogram with previous results may help identify changes in hearing sensitivity.
If your hearing has changed, understanding your results can help you take the next step rather than simply guessing about what you are hearing.
What Should You Ask After Your Hearing Test?
After receiving your results, consider asking your hearing professional:
- Do I have hearing loss in one or both ears?
- What degree of hearing loss do I have?
- Which frequencies are most affected?
- Is my hearing loss stable or has it changed?
- How might my results affect speech understanding?
- Would hearing aids or another solution benefit me?
Your provider can explain the numbers and symbols in the context of your individual hearing needs.
Get Help Understanding Your Hearing Test Results
If you have recently received hearing test results and are unsure what they mean, Fairfax Hearing can help you understand your audiogram and discuss appropriate next steps.
Call us at (202) 851-2657 to schedule a hearing evaluation and get a clearer understanding of your hearing health.
