At the end of your comprehensive hearing test, your audiologist will go over your results using something called an audiogram – a graph that maps out how well you hear different sounds. At first glance, it might look a little confusing, but don’t worry! Your audiologist will walk you through it and help you understand what it means for your hearing and next steps.
No two audiograms will look identical, as no two sets of ears are the same, so your audiogram will be entirely unique to your specific hearing capabilities.
How to Understand Your Audiogram
Your audiogram is a personalized snapshot of your hearing. It shows:
- Pitch (Frequency) on the horizontal axis, measured in Hertz (Hz). This tells us which pitches you hear best, from low frequency tones on the left to higher frequencies tones on the right.
- Loudness (Intesity) on the vertical axis, measured in decibles (dB). This indicates how soft or loud a sound needs to be before you can hear it.
Each ear has its own line on the graph, one representing your left ear and the other representing the right. Some people have a flat line, meaning their hearing is similar across all frequencies, while others might see a sloping or uneven line, which means their hearing varies at different pitches or frequencies. Many people experience more difficulty which higher-pitched sounds, which is why speech can sometimes seem muffled of unclear. There are varying degrees of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound.
Your audiogram can also help determine what type of hearing loss you may have. A Conductive Hearing Loss affects the outer or middle ear which can be caused by various reasons some of which include ear infections or fluid built up, blockages like earwax, or issues with your middle ear bones. Sensorineural Hearing Loss involves the inner ear (cochlear) or auditory nerve. Common causes include: Aging, noise exposure, medical conditions or certain medications. Some people have a mixed hearing loss, a combination of both conductive and sensorineural.
What Do Your Results Mean?
Your audiogram will help determine your next steps:
- If your hearing is within normal limits, we still recommend regular hearing tests to monitor changes over time.
- If some level of hearing loss is present, your audiologist will discuss options with you, whether that’s hearing aids, assistive devices, or communication strategies.
Have Question About Your Hearing?
If you have any questions about your audiogram or hearing health, we’d love to chat!
If you’d like to chat with an expert from Wavefront Centre’s team about your hearing or have questions about hearing care, please don’t hesitate to request a callback, and we’ll get in touch as soon as we can.
Alternatively, you can find your closest clinic and contact us in:
Mount Pleasant
Kitsilano
Tri-Cities
