Start with one mark at one pitch. The number along the top or bottom tells you which pitch was tested. The number down the side tells you how loud the tone had to be for you to hear it. The symbol identifies the ear and the way the tone was delivered.
Once you know how to read one mark, you can compare the ears at the same pitch and see how the results change from lower to higher pitches. If you’re preparing for your first appointment, see what happens during a hearing test.
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What Do the Numbers on an Audiogram Mean?
The horizontal axis shows frequency, measured in hertz (Hz). Lower pitches are on the left and higher pitches are on the right. The vertical axis shows hearing level, usually written as dB HL. For a given pitch, a mark farther down means the tone had to be louder for you to detect it.
The level recorded for each pitch is called a hearing threshold. For example, if the right-ear mark at 2,000 Hz sits at 35 dB HL, that is the recorded threshold for that pitch in the right ear. It does not mean you have lost 35% of your hearing.
What Do the Xs and Os Mean?
On many audiograms, an O represents the right ear and an X represents the left ear when tones are played through earphones without masking. You may also see triangles, squares, brackets, or other marks. Check the legend on your own report because the symbol also depends on how the test was performed.
If your results include bone conduction, the audiologist used a small device against the skull to deliver some of the tones. Comparing these results with the tones delivered through earphones can help the audiologist determine the type of hearing loss. Ask them to point out which marks came from each part of the test.
Read One Example From Left to Right
These numbers are illustrative. They show how to compare marks at the same pitch.
| Pitch tested | Right ear | Left ear |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Hz | 15 dB HL | 15 dB HL |
| 2,000 Hz | 25 dB HL | 15 dB HL |
| 4,000 Hz | 45 dB HL | 25 dB HL |
At 500 Hz, both ears detected the tone at the same level. At 4,000 Hz, the right ear needed the tone to be louder than the left ear did. Looking at the right ear on its own, the 4,000 Hz mark also sits lower on the chart than the 500 Hz mark.
Those comparisons describe the pattern. If your own chart shows a difference between ears, ask the audiologist how significant it is and whether it needs follow-up. If you also hear ringing in the quieter ear, mention that. Read about ringing in one ear.
Comparing hearing support claims? See Audifort’s product label and seller information. Check whether the research measured tone thresholds, speech understanding, or a different outcome.
Why the Chart May Leave Questions About Conversation
An audiogram records which tones you detect at different levels. At dinner, you’re trying to follow words while other voices, dishes, and music compete for your attention. If that’s where you struggle, ask whether a speech-in-noise test could help assess the difficulty.
Bring an example that includes the setting. “I can follow my partner at home, but I miss words when we eat out” gives the audiologist a specific problem to discuss alongside the chart. Read about difficulty hearing in background noise.
If your hearing has changed gradually, ask how the pattern fits your history and whether the clinic has an older result to compare with it. Read about age-related hearing loss.
What to Ask Before You Leave
- Which pitches are hardest for each ear? Ask the audiologist to point to the marks.
- Does the difference between my ears need follow-up? Mention any ringing, fullness, or other symptoms on one side.
- How do these results relate to the situation I described? Ask about speech testing if background noise is your main concern.
- Can I have a copy of the chart and the written interpretation? Keep both for future comparisons.
If your hearing drops suddenly, seek medical care immediately, even if the ear feels blocked. Tell the medical team when the change started. Read about sudden hearing loss.
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