Hearing Test

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What Happens During A Hearing Test?

During a hearing test, also known as pure tone audiometry (PTA), your Audiologist will play sounds through a set of headphones at different pitches (frequencies) and intensities of sound. Whenever you hear a sound, you respond by pressing a button. The quietest level of sound heard at each pitch is then measured and plotted on a graph called an audiogram; these sounds are referred to as your hearing thresholds.

The Audiologist will measure:

Air Conduction - The sounds heard through the outer, middle, and inner ear.
Bone Conduction - The sounds heard through the inner ear only.

What Is An Audiogram?

An audiogram is a graph which is produced based on the results of your hearing test. Your audiogram will show the quietest level of sound you can hear at each pitch, known as Hearing Threshold Levels

Hearing Test in progress

Your results

Your Audiologist will interpret the results for each ear to determine the severity and nature of any hearing loss that you may have. Typically, hearing loss is symmetrical, meaning the level of loss is the same in both ears. However sometimes it can be asymmetrical, meaning you have a different degree of hearing loss in each ear. 

Thresholds from 0 to 20 dB are considered to be within normal hearing range for adults. Any results outside of these thresholds typically means that you might experience difficulties with your hearing. The degree of hearing loss is usually one of the following

Mild: thresholds between 20-40dB
Moderate: thresholds between 41-70dB
Severe: thresholds between 71-90dB
Profound: thresholds from 91dB+

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