Making Sense of Your Audiogram Results
If you’ve recently had a hearing test, here’s how to read your results — and what to do next.
If you’ve just received your audiogram, you might be staring at a page of symbols, lines, and numbers wondering: What does this actually mean and what happens next?
An audiogram can look technical at first. But it’s simply a chart that shows how well you hear different pitches (frequencies) and how loud sounds must be before you can detect them in each ear.
Once you understand how to read it, your audiogram becomes a helpful tool for understanding your hearing and deciding what to do next.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
The 3 key takeaways
- Your audiogram is the starting point. It shows how you hear different pitches and volumes, but a hearing professional can help interpret the results and guide your next steps.
- You have options. From hearing aids to medical treatments, there are many ways to improve your hearing. The right solution depends on your needs and lifestyle.
- Regular care matters. Hearing can change over time. Regular checkups with your audiologist help keep your hearing clear and your devices working well.
How to Read an Audiogram
Trying to read an audiogram can feel like reading a map without a legend. Once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier.
An audiogram measures two key things:
- Pitch (frequency), shown across the top of the chart in Hertz (Hz). Low-pitched sounds (like thunder) are on the left. High-pitched sounds (like birds chirping) are on the right.
- Volume (loudness), shown along the side of the chart in decibels (dB). Softer sounds are near the top. Louder sounds appear farther down.
If your results fall lower on the chart, it means louder sounds were required before you could hear them. In simple terms: the lower the mark, the greater the hearing loss at that pitch.
Common Audiogram Symbols
Your hearing thresholds are marked as symbols — usually Xs and Os — across the chart.
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O (red line) = Right ear (air conduction)
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X (blue line) = Left ear (air conduction)
These symbols show the softest sounds you could hear at each pitch during testing with headphones.
You may also see additional symbols if more detailed testing was performed:
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Bone conduction symbols (>, <, [, ]) show how your inner ear responds when sound bypasses the ear canal.
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Masked symbols (△ or □) indicate noise was played in the opposite ear to isolate the ear being tested.
These additional tests help your audiologist determine not just how much hearing loss you have, but what type.
Type of Hearing Loss
Air conduction testing measures how sound travels through your entire hearing system: outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.
Bone conduction testing sends sound directly to the inner ear using a small vibrating device placed behind the ear.
The pattern of your results, especially the relationship between air and bone conduction, helps identify the type of hearing loss.
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Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common and involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. It is usually permanent.
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Conductive hearing loss involves the outer or middle ear and is often medically treatable.
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Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both
Your audiologist uses this information to determine the most appropriate treatment options.
Your Degree of Hearing Loss
Your audiogram also shows how much hearing loss you have, if any. The hearing loss levels are based on how loud a sound needs to be before you can hear it.
| Degree of hearing loss | dB range | What may be harder to hear |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | 26–40 dB | Whispers and soft speech Conversations in noise Quiet consonants (“s,” “f,” “th”) |
| Moderate | 41–55 dB | Normal conversation at a distance Group discussions Women’s and children’s voices TV volume |
| Moderately severe | 56–70 dB | Loud speech without amplification Phone conversations Doorbells and alarms Speech without visual cues |
| Severe | 71–90 dB | Most speech without devices Shouting needed to understand Heavy reliance on lip-reading or captions |
| Profound | 91+ dB | Speech without amplification Many environmental sounds |
Even mild hearing loss can affect how clearly you understand speech — especially in noisy settings.
Tips for Communicating with Someone Who Has Hearing Loss
If you’re reading this as a loved one or caregiver, small communication changes can make a meaningful difference. Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person with the audiogram — it affects everyone in the room. The right strategies can help reduce listening fatigue and make conversations smoother for both of you.
Here are simple ways to improve conversations with someone who has hearing loss:
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Face the person directly. Visual cues like facial expressions and lip movements help fill in missed sounds.
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Get their attention before speaking. Say their name or gently tap their arm so they’re ready to listen.
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Speak clearly but don’t shout. Raising your voice can distort speech. Instead, speak at a steady pace and articulate clearly.
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Rephrase instead of repeating. If something isn’t understood, try saying it differently rather than repeating the same sentence.
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Reduce background noise when possible. Turn off the TV, move to a quieter space, or lower competing sounds.
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Be patient. Hearing loss can make conversations mentally exhausting. A calm, supportive tone helps reduce frustration.
These small adjustments can make everyday conversations more comfortable and help your loved one stay engaged and confident.
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Do I need hearing aids?
Whether or not you need hearing aids—and which kind is right for you—depends on the degree and configuration of your hearing loss and how it’s impacting your daily communication.
If your hearing loss is mild to moderate (typically in the 20 to 55 dB HL range) and affects both ears relatively equally, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids may be a good starting point. These devices are designed for adults aged 18 and older who experience difficulty hearing in certain situations, like conversations in small groups or noisy environments, but do not have complex hearing needs.
On the other hand, if your hearing loss is more severe—anything over 55 dB—or if one ear is much worse than the other, you’ll probably do better with prescription hearing aids fitted by a professional. This is also the way to go if you’re having trouble understanding speech even in quiet places, hear ringing in your ears, or have other ear-related health issues. Prescription devices are tailored to your specific needs and come with expert support to help you adjust and get the most out of them.
Here are a few specific scenarios to help you choose hearing aids:
- If both ears are affected evenly in the speech range, over-the-counter hearing aids may work well for conversations in noisy settings.
- You’re missing speech sounds even in quiet. Prescription hearing aids from an audiologist will be more effective with custom tuning.
- If there’s more than 15–20 dB difference between ears, see a professional. OTC devices can’t handle asymmetrical loss.
- If you score below 80% on word recognition tests, you likely need specialized help from a hearing professional.
- Sharp drops at 2000–8000 Hz affect consonant clarity. Even with mild overall loss, this pattern benefits from hearing aids.
Talk to a Professional
Your audiogram is an important starting point, but it doesn’t tell the full story on its own. That’s why it’s so important to follow up with a hearing professional, like an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. They can explain your results in more detail, answer your questions, and help you figure out what comes next.
👉 Use our Audiologist Explorer to find a licensed audiologist in your area.
Hearing loss can affect many parts of your life, from communication to overall well-being. Working with a provider gives you the chance to talk through your options and create a plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. Whether treatment involves hearing aids, medical care, or continued monitoring, your care team is there to guide you every step of the way.
How to Find a Provider
If you don’t already have an audiologist or ENT, your primary care doctor is a great place to start. They can offer a referral based on your results and any other health conditions you might have.
You can also visit websites like the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) or ASHA to find licensed hearing professionals near you. Look for someone who takes time to listen, explains things clearly, and helps you find care that fits your needs.
Questions to Ask During Your Appointment
Bring your audiogram along, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Here are some good ones to get the conversation started:
- What does my audiogram mean?
- What type of hearing loss do I have?
- Is my hearing loss likely to change over time?
- What treatment options are available to me?
- Would hearing aids help, and if so, which type might be best?
- Are there other tests I should consider?
- Could my hearing loss be related to another health condition?
- What steps can I take to protect my hearing going forward?
Asking the right questions can help you feel more confident and supported, and ensure you get the care that fits you best.
Explore Treatment Options
Once you’ve reviewed your audiogram with a professional, the next step is exploring your treatment options. What works best will depend on the type and degree of hearing loss you have — but the good news is, there are more options than ever.
Once hearing aids are recommended, it’s important to understand how to choose a hearing aid that fits your hearing profile for the best outcome.
For many people, hearing aids are the most helpful tool. Today’s hearing aids are smaller, more comfortable, and much smarter than older models. Many include features like background noise control and Bluetooth, so you can connect to your phone or TV. Your audiologist will help fit the device and adjust it to match your hearing needs and daily routine. For more severe hearing loss, cochlear implants may be recommended. These are small devices that bypass damaged parts of the ear to help send clearer sound signals to the brain.
Sometimes medical treatment or minor surgery can help improve your hearing. This might mean removing earwax, treating an infection, or fixing a problem in the ear’s structure.
No matter the approach, getting help sooner rather than later is important. Untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, memory issues, and even cognitive decline over time. Addressing it early helps protect your overall health — and keeps you connected to the world around you.
Ongoing Treatment & Care
Your hearing journey doesn’t end once you’ve started treatment. In fact, regular checkups are an important part of making sure your hearing stays as strong and supported as possible. Just like you’d see your eye doctor or dentist regularly, checking in with your audiologist helps keep things on track.
Over time, your hearing may change — and your hearing aids or other devices might need to be adjusted. Staying in touch with your provider means you can make small tweaks that keep things comfortable and clear. It’s also a great way to learn about new features or technologies that might make your daily life even easier. Hearing care is an ongoing process, and a little maintenance goes a long way.
Frequently asked questions
What do the X and O mean on an audiogram?
On a standard audiogram, O represents the right ear and X represents the left ear during air conduction testing (when tones are delivered through headphones). Each symbol marks the softest sound you could hear at a specific pitch (frequency). The lower the symbol appears on the chart, the louder the sound needed to be for you to hear it.
What is the “speech banana” on an audiogram?
The “speech banana” is a shaded area on some audiograms that shows where common speech sounds fall in terms of pitch and loudness. If your hearing thresholds fall below parts of the speech banana, you may have difficulty hearing certain consonants or understanding speech clearly.
What is normal hearing on an audiogram?
Normal adult hearing typically falls between –10 and 25 decibels (dB HL) across tested frequencies (usually 250–8000 Hz). If your hearing thresholds are within this range, you can generally detect soft speech and everyday sounds without difficulty. Results above 25 dB HL may indicate some degree of hearing loss.
Why is my hearing worse in one ear?
It’s common for hearing levels to differ slightly between ears. Asymmetrical hearing can result from noise exposure, infections, injury, age-related changes, or certain medical conditions. If there is a significant difference between ears (often 15–20 dB or more at multiple frequencies), your provider may recommend further medical evaluation to rule out underlying causes.
What does bone conduction testing show?
Bone conduction testing sends sound directly to the inner ear using a small vibrating device placed behind the ear. Comparing bone conduction results to air conduction results helps determine whether hearing loss is conductive (outer/middle ear), sensorineural (inner ear), or mixed.
Is my hearing loss reversible?
It depends on the type and cause. Conductive hearing loss (such as from earwax, fluid, or infection) is often medically treatable. Sensorineural hearing loss (from inner ear or nerve damage) is typically permanent but can often be effectively managed with hearing aids or other assistive devices. Your audiologist can explain which type you have and discuss appropriate next steps.
