How to Read Your Audiogram Results: A Practical US Hearing Guide

Seeing your hearing test results for the first time can feel confusing. All those lines, symbols, and numbers may look like a foreign language. This guide explains how to read your audiogram results step by step so you can better understand your hearing, ask clearer questions, and feel more confident about your hearing care.

What Is an Audiogram?

An audiogram is a graph that shows how well you hear different sounds. It is the main way hearing professionals record and explain the results of a hearing test. Each ear is tested separately, and the results are plotted on the chart.

On an audiogram, you will see symbols representing the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches (frequencies). The shape of this pattern helps your hearing care professional understand your type and degree of hearing loss.

Understanding Audiogram Decibels and Frequencies

The Horizontal Axis: Pitch (Frequency)

The horizontal line along the top of the audiogram shows pitch, measured in hertz (Hz). These frequencies range from low to high, similar to notes on a piano.

Low pitches (around 250–500 Hz) sound like a man’s deep voice or a drum.
Middle pitches (around 1000–2000 Hz) include many vowel sounds in speech.
High pitches (around 4000–8000 Hz) include many consonants like “s,” “f,” and “th,” and sounds like birds chirping.

These frequencies are important because they affect how clearly you can understand speech, especially in noisy places.

The Vertical Axis: Loudness (Decibels)

The vertical line along the side of the audiogram shows loudness, measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL). The scale usually starts near the top around -10 or 0 dB (very soft sounds) and increases as you move down the chart.

0–20 dB HL: Very soft sounds, like a whisper.
20–40 dB HL: Quiet speech and soft environmental sounds.
40–70 dB HL: Normal conversation levels.
70+ dB HL: Louder sounds, like traffic or a vacuum cleaner.

The lower the mark on the page, the louder a sound has to be before you can hear it at that pitch.

Common Audiogram Symbols and What They Mean

Right Ear and Left Ear

Each ear is charted separately. The most common symbols are:

Right ear air conduction: Often shown as a red “O.”
Left ear air conduction: Often shown as a blue “X.”

These marks show the softest level you can hear through headphones or earphones at each frequency.

Other Possible Symbols

Your audiogram may also include other symbols or lines. These can indicate different test methods or sound presentations. Your hearing care professional can explain exactly which markings are used on your chart. The key printed on the audiogram is also a helpful guide.

How to Read Audiogram Results by Degree of Hearing Loss

Once you understand the axes and symbols, the next step is to look at where your results fall on the chart. This helps describe the overall degree of hearing loss. While exact ranges can vary slightly, many professionals use categories like these:

Normal hearing: 0 to 20 dB HL
Mild hearing loss: 21 to 40 dB HL
Moderate hearing loss: 41 to 55 dB HL
Moderately severe hearing loss: 56 to 70 dB HL
Severe hearing loss: 71 to 90 dB HL
Profound hearing loss: Greater than 90 dB HL

The degree of hearing loss may be different across pitches and can also differ between ears. Your audiogram interpretation guide from the clinic may highlight these ranges to make them easier to see.

Patterns on the Audiogram and What They Can Mean

High-Frequency Hearing Loss Signs

Many adults, especially as they age or after long-term noise exposure, develop high-frequency hearing loss. On an audiogram, this typically appears as marks that are closer to normal at low pitches and drop lower (worse hearing) as the frequencies get higher.

Possible signs related to this pattern include:

Speech seems unclear, especially women’s and children’s voices.
Difficulty hearing in restaurants or group conversations.
Words like “cat,” “fish,” or “seat” sound similar or are missed.
Birds chirping, timers, or beeps may be hard to hear.

If your audiogram shows this pattern, it can help explain why you might say, “I can hear people talking, but I can’t understand what they’re saying.”

Flat or Sloping Hearing Loss

Some people have a “flat” hearing loss, where the marks on the audiogram are at roughly the same level across frequencies. Others have a gradual slope from low to high or the reverse. These patterns can influence what sounds are hardest for you to hear.

Speech Testing and Understanding Your Results

In addition to the tone-based audiogram, your hearing test often includes speech testing. These results help explain how your hearing loss affects everyday conversation.

Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)

The Speech Reception Threshold is the softest level (in dB HL) at which you can correctly repeat familiar, two-syllable words about half the time. This number often matches, or comes close to, the average of your hearing levels at certain speech frequencies on the audiogram.

Word Recognition or Speech Understanding Scores

You may also see a percentage score for how well you understand words when they are presented at a comfortable loudness. This helps describe how clearly you can understand speech with appropriate volume, not just how soft you can hear it.

From Audiogram to Real Life: What Your Results Can Tell You

Reading your hearing test results explained on paper is only part of the story. The more important question is how those results match your daily experience.

Do you struggle in noisy places?
Do you ask others to repeat themselves often?
Do voices sound muffled, even when they are loud enough?
Do you feel tired after social events from trying to listen so closely?

Comparing your audiogram to these real-life situations can help you and your hearing care professional decide which strategies, technology, or lifestyle changes may help most.

Hearing Aid Fitting From Your Audiogram

If your audiogram shows a hearing loss that could benefit from amplification, your hearing care professional may recommend hearing aids. The audiogram is an important tool in this process.

During a hearing aid fitting from audiogram results, the professional uses your individual hearing levels at each frequency to:

Program the hearing aids to provide more help where your hearing is weaker.
Adjust settings differently for each ear, if your hearing loss is not the same on both sides.
Balance clarity and comfort, so sounds are easier to understand without being overwhelming.

Your feedback during the fitting, along with follow-up visits, helps fine-tune these settings over time.

Communication Tips for Hearing Loss

Technology can make a big difference, but everyday communication habits matter too. Based on what your audiogram shows, you can use simple strategies to improve conversations at home, work, and social events.

Ask people to face you so you can see their lips and facial expressions.
Reduce background noise when possible by turning off the TV or moving to a quieter spot.
Let others know about your hearing needs so they can speak clearly and get your attention before they start talking.
Confirm key details (times, dates, directions) to avoid misunderstandings.
Use good lighting so you can better see the speaker’s face and gestures.

These communication tips for hearing loss are helpful whether or not you use hearing aids and can make your day-to-day interactions less stressful.

Putting It All Together: How to Read Your Audiogram Results With Confidence

Understanding how to read your audiogram results gives you a clearer picture of your hearing health. By knowing what the decibels and frequencies mean, recognizing patterns such as high-frequency hearing loss, and connecting the chart to your everyday listening challenges, you can play an active role in your care.

If anything on your audiogram is unclear, bring your questions to your hearing professional. Walking through the chart together is one of the best ways to make sure your treatment plan matches your needs, your lifestyle, and your long-term hearing goals.