The audiogram is a graph that shows the softest sounds a person can listen to different pitches or frequencies. It is a hearing test that helps the doctor to detect hearing loss.
Two types of hearing loss occur
Asymmetrical hearing loss and symmetric hearing loss.
Asymmetrical hearing loss occurs when each ear has a different level or type of hearing loss. Each ear is represented by a different line on the graph. If your graphs or lines look different, you have an asymmetrical hearing loss. When there is the Asymmetric hearing loss, it is best to check your ears by (Ear Nose Teeth) ENT Doctor. Mostly in this hearing loss no need to surgery or treatment.
If you need more information or you have a question regarding Audio gram Chart or Hearing Loss, you can discuss it with our HearingSol healthcare professionals, just give us a call on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.
Symmetrical hearing loss is the most natural with age-related hearing loss. It means that the hearing loss is similar in both ears. If both lines or graphs look the same, then you have a symmetrical hearing loss.
The way to a hearing aid fitting often begins with an emotion or feeling that your hearing is not as it should be or that your hearing has declined. This feeling may begin from situations where you have to ask for sentences to be repeated or when other people object that the television is too loud while you consider it as comfortable.
Audiogram chart is prepared after hearing test that is called Pure Tone Audiometry Test. The graph shows an individual’s hearing ability at different sound frequency level.
It is a tool that audiologist and healthcare providers use for the hearing test. So let’s get to know the basics of Audiogram chart and how to read this.
Audiogram Chart
Outcomes from a hearing test are displayed on an audiogram.
Audiogram Chart compares the degree of hearing loss and which frequency or pitch hearing loss is at. Audiogram Chart consists of two axes one is horizontal and another one is vertical. It appears like a grid.
1. Horizontal Axis:-
It is displayed in Hertz and indicating loudness of sound in decibels.
Where 250Hz is low pitch sound and 8000 Hz is high pitch sound.
2. Vertical Axis:-
Decibels indicate the amount of hearing loss. If the number in decibel is higher then, higher will be the hearing loss and vice-versa. The range of decibels moves from 10 up to 120db.
The normal hearing range for adults is considered from 0 to 20 DB. If anyone of the result is outside of this threshold then it means he/she has some hearing difficulty.
Two-lines are plotted on audiogram chart. One has a blue color with x letter and another is the red color with the O letter scheme.
The blue color indicates, as the result of the left ear hearing test conduct. And the red color is for the indication of the right ear test result. The letters are showing the levels of hearing at each pitch.
Key :
Blue = left ear , X= Left Ear
Red = Right Ear , O= Right Ear
The degree of loss is usually one of the following:-
Mild:
The threshold between 26-40 dB. In this, you may have difficulty in understanding some words when there’s a lot of background noise.
Moderate:
The threshold between 40-69 dB. In this, you ask people to repeat themselves a lot during conversations.
Severe:
The threshold between 70-94 dB. In this, you can’t hear what people are saying without the use of a hearing aid, or you rely on reading lips to understand the conversation.
Profound:
The threshold will be 90 dB+.In this, you can only hear an extremely loud conversation or sound. Thus you may prefer using sign language to communicate with anyone.
(Don’t confuse if anyone has 100 DB result means 100% hearing loss).
What is the word recognition score?
The last part of your audiogram that you will need to see that is
Word Recognition Score or WRS. It is located in a small box below or below your audiogram graph. Word recognition scores are a measure of your speech-abilities.
Your audiologist will test your brain’s ability to understand language by repeating sentences and words. It is important to understand that the parts of your brain separate the speech and hearing process.
Word recognition test identifies the patient’s hearing ability, who wear the hearing aids for hearing loss issue.