The results of a patient's hearing screening are illustrated on a graph called an audiogram.

An audiogram indicates how much hearing varies from normal and, if there is a hearing loss, where the problem might be located in the hearing pathway.

1. Frequency

Frequency or pitch of sound is measured along the horizontal axis of the graph in Hertz (Hz), from 125Hz to 8,000Hz.
The higher the measurement, the higher the pitch of the sound. For example, 250 Hz sounds like middle C on the piano, while the high pitched ringing of the telephone is about 3,000Hz.

Normal, young, healthy human ears can hear frequencies as low as 20Hz and as high as Normal, young, healthy human ears can hear frequencies as low as 20Hz and as high as

2. Sound level

Loudness or level of sounds is measured along the vertical axis of the audiogram in decibels (dB).

Zero decibels (0dB) does not mean 'no sound' - it is just extremely soft. Conversational voice level is around 65dB, and 120dB is very loud - about as loud as a jet taking off if you are standing 100 metres away.


What does the audiogram mean?