What Do Hearing Test Results Mean?
Key takeaways
- A hearing test produces several measurements — pure-tone thresholds, speech recognition scores, and sometimes middle ear function results.
- Pure-tone average (PTA) is a summary number that describes your hearing threshold across the key speech frequencies.
- Speech recognition scores measure how well you understand words at a comfortable listening level.
- Results are interpreted in the context of your symptoms, history, and lifestyle — not as a standalone number.
- Your audiologist will explain what your results mean and whether hearing aids or other interventions may help.
A comprehensive hearing evaluation produces several different measurements. Understanding what each one means can help you have a more informed conversation with your audiologist and make better decisions about your hearing health.
Pure-tone thresholds
The core of a hearing test is pure-tone audiometry — listening to tones at different frequencies and volumes and indicating when you can hear them. The results are plotted on an audiogram. Your thresholds at each frequency show the softest sound you can detect at that pitch.
Learn how to read an audiogram →
Pure-tone average (PTA)
The pure-tone average is a single number that summarizes your hearing threshold across the key speech frequencies — typically 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz. It is calculated by averaging your thresholds at these three frequencies. The PTA gives a quick summary of your hearing ability in the range most important for understanding speech.
The following degree-of-loss classifications are widely used in audiology, based on the work of Clark (1981) and adopted by professional organizations including ASHA.1,2
| PTA range (dB HL) | Degree of hearing loss |
|---|---|
| -10 to 25 | Normal |
| 26–40 | Mild |
| 41–55 | Moderate |
| 56–70 | Moderately severe |
| 71–90 | Severe |
| 91+ | Profound |
Speech recognition threshold (SRT)
The speech recognition threshold is the softest level at which you can correctly repeat simple two-syllable words (called spondees) about 50 percent of the time. It should be consistent with your pure-tone average — if the two numbers are very different, it may indicate the need for additional testing.
Word recognition score (WRS)
The word recognition score — sometimes called speech discrimination — measures how well you understand single-syllable words when they are presented at a comfortable listening level. It is expressed as a percentage. ASHA describes performance categories along the following general lines, though audiologists may use slightly different descriptors:3
- •90–100%: Excellent — speech understanding is essentially normal at a comfortable level
- •75–90%: Good — mild difficulty; most speech is understood in favorable conditions
- •60–74%: Fair — moderate difficulty; some words are missed even at comfortable levels
- •Below 60%: Poor — significant difficulty understanding speech; hearing aids alone may not fully restore speech clarity
These categories are general guides, not rigid diagnostic thresholds. Your audiologist will interpret your WRS in the context of your full evaluation. The word recognition score is particularly important when considering hearing aids: a high WRS suggests amplification is likely to be beneficial, while a low WRS may indicate that hearing aids alone will not fully restore speech understanding and that additional strategies or devices may help.
Tympanometry
Tympanometry tests the function of the middle ear by measuring how the eardrum responds to changes in air pressure. It does not test hearing directly but helps identify problems such as fluid in the middle ear, a perforated eardrum, or Eustachian tube dysfunction. Results are reported as a tympanogram. The three most common curve shapes and what they typically indicate are:2
- •Type A: Normal middle ear pressure and eardrum mobility — the middle ear is functioning as expected
- •Type B: Flat curve with little or no peak — often indicates fluid in the middle ear (as in otitis media with effusion) or a perforated eardrum
- •Type C: Peak shifted toward negative pressure — suggests Eustachian tube dysfunction or early fluid accumulation
Your audiologist will interpret tympanometry results alongside your audiogram and other test findings. A Type B result, for example, may prompt a referral to an ENT physician to evaluate and treat the underlying middle ear condition.
Acoustic reflex testing
Acoustic reflex testing measures the involuntary contraction of the stapedius muscle in the middle ear in response to loud sounds. The presence, absence, or pattern of acoustic reflexes provides additional information about the location and nature of hearing loss.
What your results mean for treatment
Your audiologist will interpret all of these results together — not in isolation — along with your symptoms, history, and lifestyle. The combination of results determines:
- •Whether hearing aids are likely to help
- •Which type and style of hearing aid may be most appropriate
- •Whether medical referral (to an ENT physician) is warranted
- •Whether further diagnostic testing is needed
- •Whether assistive listening devices or communication strategies may be beneficial
Frequently asked questions
What is a "good" word recognition score?
A score of 90–100% is generally considered excellent, indicating near-normal speech understanding at a comfortable level. Scores in the 75–90% range are good. Scores below 60% suggest significant difficulty understanding speech, and hearing aids alone may not fully restore clarity. Your audiologist will interpret your score in the context of your full evaluation.
My audiogram looks normal but I still struggle to hear. Why?
Pure-tone thresholds measure detection of simple tones, not speech understanding in real-world conditions. Some people have normal or near-normal thresholds but still struggle in noise — this may be related to auditory processing, cognitive factors, or subtle high-frequency loss not captured by standard testing. Discuss your concerns with your audiologist.
Should I get a second opinion on my hearing test results?
You are always entitled to seek a second opinion. If you have questions about your results or recommendations, another audiologist can review your audiogram and provide their perspective.
Sources
- 1. Clark JG. Uses and abuses of hearing loss classification. ASHA. 1981;23(7):493–500.
- 2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Hearing Evaluation. asha.org. Accessed September 2026.
- 3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Pure-Tone Testing. asha.org. Accessed September 2026.
- 4. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Hearing Tests. nidcd.nih.gov. Accessed September 2026.