One of the most effective ways to measure your hearing capacity is an audiogram. The audiogram is a results sheet put to use for “pure tone” hearing tests. They effectively indicate your range of hearing, from deep and quiet sounds to high, loud noises. Below, you can learn about the process of taking the test, reading the audiogram and possible indications of your results. Getting your ears tested is a great way to find out where you are at with your hearing and design hearing loss prevention at your workplace or home. A mobile hearing test can be used to help people understand their hearing and their workplace exposure.
Additionally, we will give recommendations on how to combat hearing loss in your workplace. Among other options, custom earplugs can prove to be an asset for long-term dynamic hearing.
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How We Use Audiograms
The Pure Tone Hearing Test
We typically perform hearing tests in one of our mobile vehicles for convenience. Inside, we have soundproof testing booths that meet local and provincial testing requirements, including CSA standards. We measure your hearing in both ears through a series of tones that rise in loudness for particular frequencies across a part of the sound spectrum.
When you arrive, you will don a set of headphones and hold a small button. Then, the tones will begin, and when you first hear the sound, you indicate it with the signal. The test records your input, and this process repeats until the completion of the test. Afterwards, we share the results with you and offer any insights we may have to share.
How to Read an Audiogram
The first step in reading an audiogram is to understand the two measures of assessment. The first is pitches and frequencies, which we measure in Hz (Hertz). You read this from a deep tone (250 Hz) on the left to a high tone (8000 Hz) on the right.
The second metric is loudness or intensity, which goes from quietest at the bottom and loudest at the top, and decibels (dB) are the unit of measurement. Typically, the audiogram has a range of 0dB (quiet) to 100 dB (loud).
Therefore, each mark on the audiogram indicates the lowest intensity threshold for multiple frequencies that each ear hears. Usually, we mark the right ear results with an “O” and the left ear with an “X.”
Interpreting the Results
Generally, hearing loss results from continuous exposure to loud noises or a single loud incident at close range. If we find results on your audiogram where you indicated hearing a particular frequency above a certain threshold, it is typically a sign of hearing loss.
However, ears will often have different frequency thresholds due to previous overexposure, and poor results in one ear might not show up in the other. As a result, when we share your test results, we may advise you to seek a medical professional for hearing-related concerns.
Custom Ear Plugs and Other Hearing Protection
If you work with loud noises regularly, you should have hearing protection. Although custom earplugs are the most effective method, disposable earplugs and reusable muffs are still better than leaving your ears without protection. All of this protective equipment reduces the intensity of sound and keep the sensitive inner ear safe from long-term damage. Work with your employer to find a solution that works to keep them protected and their workers safe.
Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing is your locally owned and operated Calgary business. We are committed to providing mobile hearing testing services and other safety tests, to numerous industries and companies in Western Canada. Our services are part of the WorkSafeBC Provider Network, while our sound booths are approved by the CSA. We offer audiometry testing, mask fit testing, custom earplugs, noise measurements, help with implementing a hearing conservation program, and spirometry testing. If you want to improve your workplace, leave it in the hands of our team. Contact us today on (403) 399-4775.
Additional Audiogram FAQs
How does an audiogram work
An audiogram is a visual graph that displays the results of a hearing test, showing how well you hear different pitches and volumes in each ear. This test can show mild hearing loss or extreme.
During the test, tones are played into your right ear and left ear using headphones, and you’re asked to respond when you hear them, using your normal hearing. The results indicate your hearing thresholds at each frequency and help identify the type of hearing loss you may have. Single sided deafness can be detected this way.
This test can reveal signs of different types of hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, or even mixed hearing loss, depending on whether the issue lies in the middle ear, inner ear, or both. To determine this, audiologists use bone conduction testing alongside air conduction testing. If your results fall within the normal range, you’ll be classified as having normal hearing. If not, the audiogram can guide recommendations for aids or other hearing devices.
An audiogram is a diagnostic tool used to assess hearing by showing how well they hear sounds at different frequencies and volumes. It helps identify the type and severity of hearing impairment, including mild hearing loss and more advanced conditions. By mapping responses on a graph, an audiogram can reveal whether hearing concerns are linked to the middle ear, the inner ear, or a combination of both. This is especially useful for distinguishing age-related hearing loss from other causes and understanding how effectively someone can hear sounds in everyday situations. Overall, an audiogram provides a clear snapshot of hearing and supports accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
An audiogram can show degrees of hearing loss and reveal when hearing loss reaches the more serious levels of severity vs normal hearing in both the right ear and the left ear. Severe hearing loss typically shows thresholds between 70–90 dB, while moderate hearing loss is below 70 dB. Extreme or profound hearing loss is above 90 and these degrees of hearing loss are quite severe. On the graph, this means that even loud sounds are barely detected, if at all.
To pinpoint the cause, audiologists use both air conduction and bone conduction testing. If the results show a gap between air and bone conduction, the issue may be conductive. If both measures are equally poor, the loss is more likely sensorineural. In either case, the audiogram helps determine whether advanced solutions like powerful hearing aids or cochlear implants should be considered. We can also help you with our guide on workplace hearing protection strategies.
An audiogram—especially when using pure tone audiometry—is a powerful tool for assessing how well the auditory system is functioning. It can detect signs of damage caused by big sounds, such as a noise notch, which is a distinctive dip in hearing sensitivity around 4000 Hz. This notch often appears in people with noise-induced hearing loss and may not always affect their ability to understand speech, but it does signal early inner ear damage. Typically sound and hearing in the ear canal are measured in decibels, and even the softest sounds are measured the same way, and with a specific frequency.
When interpreting results, audiologists also look for an air bone gap, which shows the difference between air conduction and bone conduction thresholds. A significant air bone gap usually indicates conductive hearing loss, often due to problems in the middle ear. On the other hand, no gap—but poor thresholds—may point to sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting issues with the inner ear or even the auditory nerve. Identifying these patterns helps tailor appropriate treatment options and gives a clearer picture of the individual’s hearing health.
The “speech banana” refers to a curved region on an audiogram where most everyday speech sounds occur across different frequencies and volumes. This area represents the softest sounds needed to understand normal conversation. When a person’s hearing thresholds fall outside this range—particularly in the left ear or right ear—it often results in trouble hearing speech clearly, even when sounds seem loud enough. Audiologists use the speech banana as a practical reference point when evaluating a patient’s hearing loss and determining how speech perception may be affected.
When hearing thresholds drop below the speech banana, it can indicate varying degrees of hearing loss, ranging from mild to moderate hearing loss and beyond. These changes may be caused by long-term noise exposure, age-related changes, or medical conditions affecting how sound is processed. Identifying whether the issue is related to the inner ear or the middle ear is essential, as each points to a different type of hearing loss and requires a different treatment approach.
Tests such as pure tone audiometry, air conduction testing, and bone conduction help hearing professionals measure air conduction levels and determine whether an air bone gap is present. This information allows a hearing care professional to pinpoint whether the patient’s hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Understanding how air conduction and bone conduction differ is critical for managing hearing loss effectively and choosing appropriate solutions.
If a patient’s hearing loss places speech sounds consistently outside the speech banana, hearing technology may be recommended to restore access to speech. Hearing aids are often effective for improving clarity when air conduction pathways can still be amplified. In more advanced cases, where traditional amplification is insufficient, cochlear implants may be considered as part of a comprehensive plan for managing hearing loss and improving communication in everyday life.
An audiogram is essential in diagnosing the type of hearing loss a person may have. If both right ear and left ear results fall outside the expected range, it may indicate hearing impairment. The pattern can show whether you have sensorineural hearing loss (often due to damage in the inner ear), conductive hearing loss (linked to the middle ear), or mixed hearing loss (a combination of both), not just the middle ear.
The graph plots your ability to hear various tones and compares it to what’s considered normal hearing. If your ability to hear high frequencies is lower, for instance, you may have trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments. In these cases, hearing aids or even cochlear implants might be recommended to help restore clarity and communication ability. Sound pressure level or SPL measures the intensity of the sound and can also be the hearing level you may struggle with, again measured in decibels. 60 dB SPL is a normal conversation; 120 dB SPL is a very loud rock concert. An audiogram shows where you are good and maybe not good.
When you receive your audiogram results and you are thinking about conductive hearing loss and after your hearing assessment, the visual representation shows more than just whether you have hearing loss. The pattern created by the plotted points on the graph tells a trained hearing care professional not just whether hearing loss exists, but what degrees of hearing loss you may be experiencing — from mild or moderate hearing loss to more advanced forms. This is essential for understanding how everyday sounds, including speech and environmental noise, are perceived at varying loudness levels and pitches. Wikipedia
An audiogram is produced through air conduction testing and bone conduction testing, two complementary methods. Air conduction testing measures how well sound travels through the outer ear, middle ear, and into the inner ear. When results fall within normal limits, air conduction levels are close to the top of the chart. If they drop lower on the graph, it means softer sounds are no longer audible at those frequencies, indicating a possible hearing loss. Bone conduction focuses on the sound transmission directly to the inner ear and bypasses the outer and middle ear. Comparing these two results helps identify whether the hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. NCBI
The audiogram graph displays sound levels in decibels along the vertical axis — with softest levels at the top and louder sounds lower down — and frequency along the horizontal axis, covering low to high frequencies. When thresholds are plotted lower (closer to louder decibel levels), this suggests a greater degree of hearing loss at those specific frequencies. For example, a gradual decline across the graph might point toward age-related or noise-exposure related hearing loss that affects higher frequencies earlier. Large dips or “notches” around certain frequencies may indicate early noise trauma. NCBI
Because humans rely on a wide range of frequencies to understand speech and everyday sounds, patterns showing reduced sensitivity across multiple frequencies can directly affect an individual’s ability to follow conversations, especially in noisy environments. Even mild hearing loss at higher pitches can make it hard to distinguish certain consonants or soft speech sounds, even if louder speech is still heard. This highlights why interpreting degrees of hearing loss is not just about the presence of loss but understanding the functional impact on a person’s daily life. Wikipedia
In summary, an audiogram does much more than signal hearing loss; it provides a picture of hearing status at specific frequencies, helps determine whether thresholds vary from one ear to the other, and guides the hearing care professional in making tailored recommendations for management — whether that involves monitoring, hearing devices, or communication strategies.
Your audiogram test can help explain why you may hear sounds in some situations but struggle to understand speech in others. A hearing test measures your hearing ability across different frequencies, and the audiogram shows where your hearing threshold falls compared to the normal hearing range. This can help a hearing care professional review your hearing test results, explain whether the left ear and right ear are performing differently, and show how hearing loss occurs across your hearing range.
The horizontal axis shows the sound’s pitch, while the vertical axis shows the sound’s loudness, measured in decibels dB. Most speech sounds fall within the speech banana, so if your audiogram results show reduced hearing in that frequency range, most people may notice trouble following conversations, especially around background noise. These results can also help guide hearing solutions, including hearing aids, workplace hearing protection, or further hearing care if needed.
Yes. An audiogram represents more than just whether you have mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss, or profound hearing loss. When a hearing care professional compares air conduction and bone conduction results, they can identify whether the results suggest conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, or another type of hearing concern.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound travels less effectively through the outer or middle ear, which may involve the ear drum or middle ear bones. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually connected to the inner ear, hair cells, or hearing nerve. Your audiogram symbols may be shown on a chart called an audiogram, with each ear tested separately and sometimes displayed on a separate line so care professionals can read an audiogram more clearly and recommend the next step.