{"id":541,"date":"2020-09-28T16:14:53","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T07:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/what-does-a-normal-audiogram-look-like\/"},"modified":"2020-12-01T09:21:39","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T00:21:39","slug":"what-does-a-normal-audiogram-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-loss\/what-does-a-normal-audiogram-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a \u201cNormal\u201d Audiogram Look Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article explains what a normal audiogram test looks like and why it\u2019s smart to have your hearing tested regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audiograms are graphs displaying the results of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/hearing\/audiogram\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pure-tone hearing test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. More specifically, they show how loud sounds need to be at different frequencies (or pitches) for you to hear them. They are an easy way to visualize your hearing ability and compare it to a normal hearing range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How you respond to certain sounds in your hearing test determines the data displayed by your audiogram. During the test, you\u2019re asked to respond to the noises you can hear by pushing a button or raising your hand. The loudness of the sounds that you can hear at each frequency is recorded and constitutes the audiometric data on the audiogram.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audiograms are used for a reason \u2014 their primary function is to diagnose and monitor hearing loss. As they show the thresholds at which you can hear various frequencies, they help to reveal the precise nature of your hearing loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medicine.uiowa.edu\/iowaprotocols\/how-read-audiogram\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> audiogram results are incredibly useful,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they indicate the kind of medical interventions you might need to improve or preserve your hearing according to the degree and configuration of your specific hearing loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#What_Does_a_Normal_Hearing_Person8217s_Audiogram_Look_Like\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> What Does a Normal Hearing Person&#8217;s Audiogram Look Like?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_Often_Should_You_Get_a_Hearing_Test_Why\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> How Often Should You Get a Hearing Test? Why?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#When_to_Take_a_Hearing_Test\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> When to Take a Hearing Test\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Where_You_Can_Take_a_Hearing_Test\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Where You Can Take a Hearing Test\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Protect_Your_Healthy_Hearing\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> How to Protect Your Healthy Hearing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"What_Does_a_Normal_Hearing_Person8217s_Audiogram_Look_Like\"><b>What Does a Normal Hearing Person&#8217;s Audiogram Look Like?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An audiogram shows the severity (degree) and the pattern of your hearing loss in the form of a graph. Each line from top to bottom shows the loudness of the sound in decibels, with lines at the top of the chart for soft sounds (such as a ticking clock) and lines at the bottom for loud sounds (such as a lawnmower).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For an adult, &#8216;normal&#8217; hearing ranges from 0 &#8211; 20 decibels (dB) in all frequencies, and 0 &#8211; 15 dB for a child. Above 20 dB is classed as a hearing loss, and a greater decibel value indicates a greater level of severity. For example, mild hearing loss is present in the 20 &#8211; 40 dB range and severe loss is shown at 71-90 dB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might have a completely \u2018normal\u2019 audiogram test, meaning no hearing difficulties have been picked up by the hearing test. If this is the case, all your plot points will be at the top of the graph as you&#8217;ll be able to hear soft sounds at different frequencies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you could have normal hearing in one ear, and difficulties with the other, your audiologist will mark what you hear in your right ear with a red \u2018O\u2019 and your left ear with a blue \u2018X\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the Xs and Os are plotted at the top of the graph, your hearing is \u2018normal\u2019 in both ears.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When \u2018O\u2019s and \u2018X\u2019s appear farther down the graph, this indicates some form of hearing loss. Nevertheless, hearing loss is not a straightforward \u2018yes or no\u2019 condition where you either have it or you don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your audiogram might reveal that you hear some sounds normally, but not others. This is often the case when you have some degree of hearing loss. For example, you might be able to hear low pitches just fine, but not high pitches. As speech is usually spoken at a higher pitch, you might be able to hear it, but not fully understand what is being said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, you can experience hearing loss at all pitches. If this is the case you might find yourself unable to hear any speech whatsoever, as well as other environmental sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_Often_Should_You_Get_a_Hearing_Test_Why\"><b>How Often Should You Get a Hearing Test? Why?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you notice sudden hearing loss or experience a gradual loss of hearing that\u2019s persistent or getting worse &#8211; it&#8217;s time to get your hearing checked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, you shouldn\u2019t just wait until there\u2019s a problem to get your ears tested.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Babies are routinely screened for hearing problems in the first few days after birth, which will indicate a congenital hearing loss. Young children will also have their hearing checked if an early acquired hearing loss is suspected by a family member or physician.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you didn&#8217;t experience hearing issues in childhood, it&#8217;s easy to ignore your hearing health once you&#8217;re an adult. Nevertheless, it\u2019s important that adults over the age of 21 have their hearing checked too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve never had a hearing test as an adult, it\u2019s advisable to schedule an appointment with a medical professional for a baseline test. Even if there&#8217;s nothing wrong with your hearing, the test will confirm your hearing health at that point in time, which will serve as a useful comparison when you\u2019re older and beginning to encounter issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, if you don\u2019t have hearing loss, it is recommended that you get tested <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/do-i-need-an-ear-exam#:~:text=Baseline%20Testing,-The%20last%20time&amp;text=Adults%20should%20get%20their%20hearing,hearing%20is%20at%20that%20point\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every 10 years until you\u2019re 50, and after that, every three years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This will give you these helpful comparative tests and alert you to any gradual hearing loss that is developing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t feel the need for a comprehensive hearing test, you should still be able to ask your physician for a quick hearing screening \u2014 a pass or fail hearing test used to check if you require further tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"When_to_Take_a_Hearing_Test\"><b>When to Take a Hearing Test\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re experiencing a sudden hearing loss, make an appointment with your physician immediately. It might have a serious underlying cause and require immediate treatment to prevent permanent hearing damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve noticed a gradual loss of hearing that hasn&#8217;t improved or seems to be getting worse, it\u2019s time to book a hearing test. Untreated hearing loss can lead to further medical issues down the line such as memory deterioration, balance problems, and dementia. It\u2019s important to figure out the cause of your problems so you can access the appropriate treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, even if you have a hearing loss diagnosis or are already using hearing aids but you\u2019ve noticed your hearing getting worse, you should make another appointment with your audiologist. They\u2019ll be able to give you another hearing test, compare it to your previous tests, and work out what\u2019s going on. If necessary, your treatment can be modified accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is a change in your work or home-life, you might also want to see your audiologist as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audicus.com\/time-get-new-audiogram\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">changes in your environment <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can shift the type and strength of hearing aid that&#8217;s best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a health condition that affects the ear, regular audiologist appointments is also a good idea, as your ability to hear might change with your condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Where_You_Can_Take_a_Hearing_Test\"><b>Where You Can Take a Hearing Test\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be able to get a simple hearing screening test with your local physician. If you need a more comprehensive test, they will be able to refer you to a specialist audiologist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also find an audiologist directly. This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/hearing-aids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy Hearing tool<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is useful for locating a hearing clinic near you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Protect_Your_Healthy_Hearing\"><b>How to Protect Your Healthy Hearing<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not all types of hearing loss can be prevented, but taking care of your hearing health can reduce your risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective precautions you can take include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Listening to music at a safe level (never more than 60% of the maximum volume on your device) and not for more than one hour at a time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wearing ear protection during loud events and activities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking a break every 15 minutes when you\u2019re exposed to loud noise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking safety precautions when working in a noisy environment such as wearing ear protection and implementing safety training<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting your hearing tested and accessing treatment to prevent your hearing loss from worsening or causing other health problems<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A quick online test can also indicate whether you need to see your physician about your hearing. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/pages\/hearing-test\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olive Hearing Test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> only takes five minutes. Please note, this does not constitute a medical diagnosis or replace a professional test.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><b>The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.babyhearing.org\/what-is-an-audiogram\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.babyhearing.org\/what-is-an-audiogram<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/hearing\/audiogram\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.asha.org\/public\/hearing\/audiogram<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/do-i-need-an-ear-exam#:~:text=Baseline%20Testing,-The%20last%20time&amp;text=Adults%20should%20get%20their%20hearing,hearing%20is%20at%20that%20point\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/do-i-need-an-ear-exam<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medicine.uiowa.edu\/iowaprotocols\/how-read-audiogram\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/medicine.uiowa.edu\/iowaprotocols\/how-read-audiogram<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.audicus.com\/time-get-new-audiogram\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.audicus.com\/time-get-new-audiogram<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/hearing-aids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/hearing-aids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--><\/style>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;You got your audiogram, but how do you tell you have normal hearing or not? We'll tell you how to read it as well as why it's so important to get your hearing tested regularly! &quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":8961,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"11\":4,\"12\":0,\"16\":10}'>You got your audiogram, but how do you tell you have normal hearing or not? We&#8217;ll tell you how to read it as well as why it&#8217;s so important to get your hearing tested regularly! <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-loss\/what-does-a-normal-audiogram-look-like\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Does a \u201cNormal\u201d Audiogram Look Like? - Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You got your audiogram, but how do you tell you have normal hearing or not? 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