Guide on How to Read an Audiometry Report and Understand Your Results

An audiometry report can look technical at first glance, but it follows a clear structure once you understand the basics. It presents your hearing test results in a visual format called an audiogram, which shows how well you hear different sounds. Learning how to read this report helps you understand your hearing status and what the results mean for daily life.

How to Read an Audiometry Report

Reading an audiometry report involves understanding how sound is measured and how results are displayed. The audiogram uses a graph format, where pitch and loudness are plotted to show your hearing thresholds. Each part of the chart provides specific information, and together they form a complete picture of your hearing ability.

Understanding the Axes

The audiogram is laid out like a graph with two main axes. Together, these axes show the quietest sounds you can hear at each frequency. The horizontal axis (x-axis) represents frequency, measured in Hertz (Hz). Frequencies increase from left to right, starting with low-pitched sounds (such as 250 Hz) and moving toward high-pitched sounds (up to 8,000 Hz). Lower frequencies relate to deeper sounds, while higher frequencies are associated with sharper sounds like speech consonants. The vertical axis (y-axis) represents intensity, measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL). This axis runs from top to bottom, with softer sounds at the top (around 0 dB HL) and louder sounds as you move downward. This layout may feel inverted compared to typical graphs, but it reflects how hearing thresholds are recorded; better hearing appears closer to the top.

Common Symbols and Colors

Audiograms use standardized symbols to represent results for each ear and type of testing. For air conduction, the right ear is typically marked with a red “O,” while the left ear is shown with a blue “X.” These symbols indicate the hearing thresholds measured through headphones or insert earphones. For bone conduction, different symbols are used, often resembling brackets or arrows. These results show how the inner ear responds when sound bypasses the outer and middle ear. Lines may connect the symbols to show the overall pattern of hearing across frequencies. While colors and exact symbols may vary slightly between clinics, the general format remains consistent.

Degrees of Hearing Loss

Audiometry reports classify hearing ability based on threshold levels measured in dB HL. These categories indicate how much louder sounds need to be before you can hear them.

• Normal hearing: 0–25 dB HL
• Mild hearing loss: 26–40 dB HL
• Moderate hearing loss: 41–55 dB HL
• Moderately severe hearing loss: 56–70 dB HL
• Severe hearing loss: 71–90 dB HL
• Profound hearing loss: 91 dB HL and above

If your results fall within the normal range, you can hear most everyday sounds without difficulty. As thresholds increase, softer sounds—especially speech details—may become harder to detect. These categories help clinicians determine whether intervention is needed and what type of support may be appropriate. Read More: Understanding Hearing Test for Adults and Why It Matters 

Key Patterns to Look For

Beyond individual thresholds, the overall shape of the audiogram provides important insights. A sloping pattern, where hearing is better at low frequencies and worse at high frequencies, is commonly associated with age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. This pattern often affects clarity, especially in conversations with background noise. A flat pattern shows similar thresholds across all frequencies. This may suggest a uniform reduction in hearing sensitivity. A rising pattern, where low-frequency hearing is poorer than high-frequency hearing, is less common but can occur in certain conditions. You may also notice differences between ears. Significant variation between the left and right ears should be evaluated further, as it may indicate a specific underlying issue. Recognizing these patterns helps you move beyond numbers and understand how your hearing loss may affect real-world listening.

Identifying Types of Hearing Loss

An audiometry report also helps determine the type of hearing loss, which is based on how sound travels through the auditory system. By comparing air conduction and bone conduction results, clinicians can identify whether hearing loss is due to problems in sound transmission or issues within the inner ear. When air conduction thresholds are worse than bone conduction thresholds, it may indicate a problem in the outer or middle ear. If both types of thresholds are similarly reduced, the issue is more likely related to the inner ear or auditory pathway. Some cases involve a combination of both, which requires a more detailed assessment. Identifying the type of hearing loss is important because it directly affects treatment options and next steps.

Configurations

In audiometry, configuration refers to the overall shape of the hearing thresholds across frequencies. While patterns give a quick visual impression, configurations provide a more defined way to describe how hearing changes from low to high frequencies. This helps clinicians connect test results to possible causes and real-world hearing challenges. Sloping Configuration A sloping configuration is one of the most common. Hearing is better at lower frequencies and gradually worsens at higher frequencies. This often affects the ability to understand speech clearly, especially consonants like “s,” “f,” and “th,” which occur at higher pitches. Flat Configuration A flat configuration shows similar hearing thresholds across all frequencies. This means hearing loss is consistent regardless of pitch. People with this configuration may experience overall reduced loudness rather than distortion of specific sounds. Rising Configuration A rising configuration (also called reverse slope) shows poorer hearing at low frequencies and better hearing at higher ones. This type is less common and may be linked to specific medical conditions. It can affect how a person perceives background noise or low-pitched sounds. Notch Configuration A notch configuration is typically seen in noise-related hearing loss. It appears as a sharp drop in hearing at a specific frequency—often around 3,000 to 6,000 Hz—before improving again at higher frequencies. This pattern is commonly associated with long-term exposure to loud sounds. Asymmetrical Configuration An asymmetrical configuration occurs when there is a noticeable difference between the two ears. Even if each ear follows a recognizable pattern, a significant gap between them may require further evaluation to rule out underlying conditions.

Conclusion

Reading an audiometry report becomes much easier once you understand how the information is structured. The axes show pitch and loudness, the symbols represent each ear, and the plotted points reveal your hearing thresholds across frequencies.While the report provides valuable information, it is only one part of a full assessment. Audiologists from Bloor will be able to analyze your symptoms and medical history, and recommend additional tests if needed.