Free · Instant · No Sign-Up

Understand Your Audiogram

Enter your hearing test numbers and we'll translate them into plain English — what they mean, what you might be missing, and what to do next.

Enter Your Audiogram Results

Input the dB values from your hearing test for each frequency. Don't worry if you don't have all of them — just fill in what you have.

250 Hz500 Hz1K Hz2K Hz4K Hz8K Hz
X Left
O Right

Your Audiogram

NormalMildModerateMod-SevereSevereProfound020406080100120Hearing Level (dB)2505001K2K4K8KFrequency (Hz)XXXXXXXLeft EarRight Ear
Plain-English explanations
100% free, no account
Visual audiogram chart
The Full Experience

Understanding your hearing is just the start

Now that you know what your audiogram means, Hearing Buddy can help you hear better every day. Real-time captions, speaker identification, and conversation summaries — all processed privately on your device.

On-device privacy
Know who's talking
Apple Watch
Download Free
Hearing Buddy

Making Sense of Your Hearing Test

How to Read an Audiogram

An audiogram plots your hearing thresholds on a graph. The horizontal axis shows frequency (pitch) from low on the left to high on the right. The vertical axis shows volume in decibels, with soft sounds at the top and loud sounds at the bottom. Each mark represents the softest sound you could hear at that frequency during your test. The lower the marks fall on the chart, the more hearing loss is present at that pitch.

Degrees of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is classified by severity: Normal (0-25 dB), Mild (26-40 dB), Moderate (41-55 dB), Moderately Severe (56-70 dB), Severe (71-90 dB), and Profound (91+ dB). Most people start noticing difficulty when thresholds reach the mild range. The Pure Tone Average (PTA) — the average of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz — is used to summarize your overall hearing level.

What to Do After Your Test

If your audiogram shows hearing loss, the most important step is to talk with an audiologist about your options. Hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and communication strategies can make a world of difference. In the meantime, tools like real-time captions can help you stay connected in conversations, meetings, and everyday life while you figure out next steps.

Questions & Answers

An audiogram is a graph that shows how well you hear at different pitches (frequencies). It's the result of a hearing test performed by an audiologist. The chart plots the softest sounds you can detect at each frequency, giving a visual picture of your hearing ability.

On an audiogram, O (circles) represent your right ear and X (crosses) represent your left ear. This is a universal audiological convention. Blue is typically used for the left ear and red for the right ear. The symbols are plotted at the softest level you could hear each frequency during your test.

A normal audiogram shows hearing thresholds at or below 25 decibels (dB) across all frequencies. This means you can hear very soft sounds at every pitch. Keep in mind that "normal" on an audiogram doesn't always mean you won't have trouble in noisy environments — it just means the quietest sounds you can detect are within the expected range.

PTA is the average of your hearing thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz — the frequencies most important for understanding speech. It gives a single number summary of your hearing ability in each ear. Audiologists use PTA to classify the degree of hearing loss and track changes over time.

Yes, hearing loss can progress over time, especially with continued noise exposure, aging, or certain medical conditions. That's why regular hearing tests are important — they help you track changes and take action early. Protecting your ears from loud sounds and getting treatment when needed can help preserve the hearing you have.

Adults should get a baseline hearing test and then follow up every 1-3 years depending on age and risk factors. If you're over 50, work in noisy environments, or have noticed changes in your hearing, annual tests are a good idea. Early detection makes a huge difference in outcomes.

Hear what matters most

Understanding your audiogram is the first step. Hearing Buddy helps with the rest — real-time captions for every conversation that counts.

Available on iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac