Understanding Your Audiogram: A Simple Guide
Key takeaways
- An audiogram is a graph that plots the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies (pitches).
- The horizontal axis shows frequency in hertz (Hz); the vertical axis shows loudness in decibels (dB HL).
- Normal hearing is generally considered to be 0–25 dB HL across the speech frequencies.
- Different symbols represent your right ear, left ear, and results with and without hearing aids.
- Your audiologist will explain your results and what they mean for your hearing health and treatment options.
After a hearing test, your audiologist will show you a chart called an audiogram. For many people, it looks like a confusing graph full of symbols and numbers. This guide explains what each part of the audiogram means in plain language, so you can better understand your hearing health and the recommendations your audiologist makes.
What is an audiogram?
An audiogram is a graph that shows the results of a pure-tone hearing test. It plots the softest sounds you can hear — your hearing thresholds — at different frequencies (pitches). The audiogram gives your audiologist a picture of how your hearing compares to what is considered typical.
Reading the axes
Horizontal axis: Frequency (pitch)
The horizontal axis shows frequency, measured in hertz (Hz). Frequencies increase from left to right — low pitches on the left, high pitches on the right. The range tested typically spans 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz, which covers most of the sounds important for speech understanding.
To put this in context:
- •250–500 Hz: Low-pitched sounds — vowels, bass tones
- •1,000–2,000 Hz: Mid-range — important for speech clarity
- •2,000–4,000 Hz: High-frequency range — consonants like s, f, th, sh
- •4,000–8,000 Hz: Very high frequencies — subtle speech sounds, environmental cues
Vertical axis: Loudness (intensity)
The vertical axis shows loudness, measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL). The scale runs from -10 dB HL at the top (very soft) to 120 dB HL or more at the bottom (very loud). The higher a threshold is plotted on the graph, the softer the sound you can hear — meaning better hearing. The lower a threshold, the louder a sound needs to be before you can hear it — meaning more hearing loss.
What the symbols mean
Standard audiogram symbols represent different test conditions:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| O (circle) | Right ear, air conduction (headphones) |
| X (cross) | Left ear, air conduction (headphones) |
| < or [ (bracket) | Right ear, bone conduction (vibrator behind ear) |
| > or ] (bracket) | Left ear, bone conduction (vibrator behind ear) |
| A (triangle) | Both ears together (sound field testing) |
Comparing air conduction and bone conduction results helps the audiologist determine whether hearing loss is sensorineural, conductive, or mixed.
What is "normal" hearing?
Normal hearing is generally defined as thresholds of 0–25 dB HL across the speech frequencies. This means you can hear very soft sounds. Thresholds above 25 dB HL indicate some degree of hearing loss.
Learn about the degrees of hearing loss →
The speech banana
Many audiograms include a shaded region called the "speech banana" — an area on the graph that represents the frequencies and loudness levels of typical conversational speech sounds. When your hearing thresholds fall within or below the speech banana, you may have difficulty hearing those sounds without amplification.
What your audiogram does not show
An audiogram shows your hearing thresholds — the softest sounds you can detect — but it does not fully capture how well you understand speech in real-world listening situations. Speech recognition testing, which measures how well you understand words at a comfortable volume, provides additional important information. Your audiologist will typically perform both tests.
Learn what all your hearing test results mean →
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of my audiogram?
Yes. You are entitled to a copy of your audiogram. Ask your audiologist for a copy at the end of your appointment. It is useful to keep for your records and to share with other providers.
What does it mean if my audiogram shows a "ski slope" pattern?
A ski slope audiogram shows normal or near-normal hearing at low frequencies that drops off significantly at higher frequencies. This pattern is common in noise-induced and age-related hearing loss and typically means difficulty hearing consonants and understanding speech in noise.
Can I upload my audiogram for review?
Yes. HearingAids.md offers an audiologist review service where a licensed audiologist can review your uploaded audiogram and explain your results.
Sources
- 1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Pure-Tone Testing. asha.org. Accessed September 2026.
- 2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Hearing Tests. nidcd.nih.gov. Accessed September 2026.
- 3. Clark JG. Uses and abuses of hearing loss classification. ASHA. 1981;23(7):493–500.