When you visit your audiologist for a hearing test, you will receive your results on something called an audiogram. While you may have heard of an audiogram, you might want to familiarize yourself with the information it provides. An audiogram is a chart that measures your ability to hear various tones at different volumes. This chart is an invaluable tool because it helps your audiologist determine three major things: where your hearing loss occurs in the ear, which type of hearing loss you have, and the severity of your hearing loss.
Read on to find out how it works – and how it will help your doctor put together your best treatment plan.
How does my hearing test display on my audiogram?
An audiogram is a measurement of your hearing sensitivity. During your hearing test, we will measure a wide range of tones. When we do this, we are looking for the quietest volume at which you can distinguish each tone. The results of this test appear on your audiogram. After your hearing test, we will review your audiogram together and discuss your results and any recommendations.
What can my audiologist learn and share with me from my audiogram?
The Location of Hearing Loss
Your doctor will determine from your audiogram where the hearing loss is taking place. This helps them understand what type of hearing loss you have, and the best way to treat it.
The ear is made up of three parts: the inner ear, the middle ear, and the outer ear.
- The outer ear includes the part we can see, the ear canal, and the eardrum.
- The middle ear includes the eardrum and small bones that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
- The inner ear includes the cochlea, the semicircular canals, and nerves that go to the brain.
The Type of Hearing Loss
Once your doctor knows which part of the ear is damaged, they can determine which type of hearing loss you have. This allows them to put together the best treatment plan.
There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss.
Most cases of age-related hearing loss are sensorineural, which means that the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type of hearing loss typically requires devices like hearing aids.
Your audiogram may also show conductive hearing loss. This occurs when something is physically blocking sound from traveling through the outer or middle ear. This is often due to a treatable condition such as an ear infection, a punctured eardrum, or a problem with one of the small bones in your ear. For situations like these, the problem can be treated (with surgery, antibiotics, etc.) and hearing can often be restored.
Finally, hearing loss can be mixed. This means that you experience both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In this case, more than one type of treatment may be needed.
(For more information about the different types of hearing loss, we break it down further here.)
The Degree of Hearing Loss
Finally, your audiogram will help your doctor determine the degree of your hearing loss. It measures the softest sound you can hear in each range and compares the results against what is considered normal. From there, the audiogram will show whether your hearing loss is mild, moderate, or severe.
This will help the doctor further narrow down the best treatment options, from a small hearing aid to a cochlear implant.
At Hearing Aids of Sarasota, we will go over your audiology results with you and answer any questions you have about them. Still need to schedule your appointment? Call us today!
