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 had a hearing test and received an audiogram, you might be wondering what it all means. An audiogram is a chart that shows how well you hear different pitches or frequencies. It helps your audiologist see how soft a sound needs to be before you can hear it — from everyday speech to other common sounds.
But the audiogram is just the beginning. For many people, seeing those results brings up questions, concerns, or even a little anxiety. That’s completely normal. Whether your results show mild hearing loss or something more significant, there are helpful next steps you can take. This guide will help you understand your results, talk with your audiologist, and take the next steps with confidence.
The 3 key takeaways
- Your audiogram is just the beginning. It shows how well you hear different sounds, but a hearing professional can help explain what it means — and what to do next.
- 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.
What Your Audiogram Means: Interpreting the Results
Looking at your audiogram might feel a little like trying to read a map without a legend. Once you understand the basics, it gets much easier. Let’s break down what the chart shows and how to make sense of the information.
Main Components
An audiogram is a visual way to show how well you hear different sounds. The horizontal axis (left to right) shows pitch — from low tones like thunder to high tones like a doorbell. The vertical axis (top to bottom) shows loudness, measured in decibels (dB), with quieter sounds at the top and louder sounds at the bottom.
Your hearing thresholds are points on the graph, usually with Xs and Os. These show the softest sounds you can hear at each pitch. You may also see lines for air conduction (how sound travels through your ear) and bone conduction (how sound travels through the cochlea (inner ear). Comparing these helps your audiologist understand what kind of hearing loss you may have.
Levels of Hearing Loss
Your audiogram also shows how much hearing loss you have, if any. The levels are based on how loud a sound needs to be before you can hear it.
- Normal hearing: 0–25 dB
- Mild hearing loss: 26–40 dB
- Moderate hearing loss: 41–55 dB
- Moderately severe hearing loss: 56–70 dB
- Severe hearing loss: 71–90 dB
- Profound hearing loss: 91 dB or more
Even mild hearing loss can affect how clearly you understand speech — especially in noisy settings.
Types of Hearing Loss
Your audiogram can also help identify the type of hearing loss you’re experiencing:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: The most common type, caused by damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve. Often permanent.
- Conductive hearing loss: Caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear (like wax buildup or fluid). Often treatable.
- Mixed hearing loss: A combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Understanding the type and level of hearing loss is an important first step. From here, your audiologist can help you explore the best options for treatment and support.
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 consider if you think you might benefit from 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.
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.
