It may seem, initially, like measuring hearing loss would be simple. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, you can probably hear some things clearly at a lower volume, but not others. Most letters might sound clear at high or low volumes but others, such as “s” and “b” may get lost. When you learn how to interpret your hearing test it becomes clearer why your hearing is “inconsistent”. Because merely turning up the volume isn’t enough.
How do I understand the results of my audiogram?
Hearing professionals will be able to get a read on the condition of your hearing by using this type of hearing test. It won’t look as basic as a scale from one to ten. (Wouldn’t it be fantastic if it did!)
Many people find the graph format challenging at first. But you too can interpret a hearing test if you know what you’re looking at.
Decoding the volume portion of your audiogram
Along the left side of the chart is the volume in Decibels (dB) from 0 (silent) to about 120 (thunder). This number will specify how loud a sound has to be for you to be capable of hearing it. Higher numbers signify that in order for you to hear it, you will require louder sound.
If you’re unable to hear any sound until it reaches around 30 dB then you’re dealing with mild hearing loss which is a loss of volume between 26 and 45 dB. If hearing starts at 45-65 dB then you’re dealing with moderate hearing loss. If you start hearing at between 66 and 85 dB then it indicates you’re dealing with severe hearing loss. Profound hearing loss means that you’re unable to hear until the volume gets up to 90 dB or more, which is louder than a lawnmower.
Examining frequency on a audiogram
Volume’s not the only thing you hear. You can also hear a range of frequencies or pitches of sound. Frequencies help you distinguish between types of sounds, and this includes the letters of the alphabet.
Frequencies which a human ear can hear, ranging from 125 (lower than a bullfrog) to 8000 (higher than a cricket), are normally listed along the bottom of the graph.
We will check how well you’re able to hear frequencies in between and can then diagram them on the chart.
So, for example, if you have high-frequency hearing loss, in order for you to hear a high-frequency sound it may have to be at least 60 dB (which is about the volume of an elevated, but not yelling, voice). The graph will plot the volumes that the various frequencies will have to reach before you’re able to hear them.
Is it significant to measure both frequency and volume?
So in real life, what might the outcome of this test mean for you? Here are some sounds that would be harder to hear if you have the very common form of high frequency hearing loss:
- Beeps, dings, and timers
- Birds
- Music
- Women and children who tend to have higher-pitched voices
- “F”, “H”, “S”
- Whispers, even if hearing volume is good
While a person with high-frequency hearing loss has more trouble with high-frequency sounds, certain frequencies may seem easier to hear than others.
Inside of your inner ear you have tiny hair-like nerve cells that shake along with sounds. If the cells that pick up a specific frequency become damaged and ultimately die, you lose your ability to hear that frequency at lower volumes. If all of the cells that detect that frequency are damaged, then you totally lose your ability to hear that frequency regardless of volume.
This type of hearing loss can make some communications with friends and family extremely aggravating. You might have difficulty only hearing certain frequencies, but your family members might assume they have to yell in order for you to hear them at all. And higher frequency sounds, such as your sister talking to you, often get drowned out by background noise for individuals with this type of hearing loss.
Hearing solution can be personalized by a hearing professional by using a hearing test
When we can understand which frequencies you can’t hear well or at all, we can fine tune a hearing aid to meet each ear’s distinct hearing profile. Modern hearing aids have the ability to recognize precisely what frequencies go into the microphone. The hearing aid can be programmed to boost whatever frequency you’re having difficulty hearing. Or it can change the frequency by using frequency compression to another frequency that you can hear. Additionally, they can improve your ability to process background noise.
Modern hearing aids are programmed to address your specific hearing requirements rather than just turning up the volume on all frequencies, which creates a smoother listening experience.
If you believe you might be dealing with hearing loss, contact us and we can help.
