Understand Your Audiogram

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.

Most US clinics consider hearing normal when thresholds are at or below 25 decibels (dB) across all frequencies, and that's the convention this tool uses. The World Health Organization's 2021 World Report on Hearing sets a slightly stricter bar, defining normal hearing as better than 20 dB. Either way, "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. Note that some clinics compute PTA using only 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, so the number on your clinic report may differ slightly from the one shown here.

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.

A full audiogram can distinguish three types of hearing loss. Sensorineural loss comes from the inner ear or hearing nerve and is the most common type. Conductive loss means sound is being blocked on its way in — by earwax, fluid, or a problem with the eardrum or middle-ear bones — and is often treatable. Mixed loss is a combination of both. Audiologists tell them apart by comparing your air-conduction results (tested through headphones, the X and O marks) with bone-conduction results (tested with a small vibrator behind your ear, often marked with brackets or arrows). A gap between the two, called an air-bone gap, points to a conductive component.

Yes. AirPods Pro can run an FDA-cleared hearing test through the Apple Health app, and the results include an audiogram with dB values for each ear at each frequency. Open the Health app, find your hearing test results, and enter those thresholds above to get a plain-English translation. For many people this is a convenient first look at their numbers — though a full evaluation with an audiologist is still the gold standard.