Audiometry; Hearing test; Audiography (audiogram)

• The ability to hear a whisper, normal speech, and a ticking watch is normal.
• The ability to hear a tuning fork through air and bone is normal.
• In detailed audiometry, hearing is normal if you can hear tones from 250 Hz - 8,000 Hz at 25 dB or lower.

There are many different kinds and degrees of hearing loss. In some types, you only lose the ability to hear high or low tones, or you lose only air or bone conduction. The inability to hear pure tones below 25 dB indicates some hearing loss.

The amount and type of hearing loss may give clues to the cause and outlook.

The following conditions may affect test results:

• Acoustic neuroma
• Acoustic trauma
• Age-related hearing loss
• Alport syndrome
• Labyrinthitis
• Meniere's disease
• Occupational hearing loss
• Otosclerosis
• Ruptured or perforated eardrum

Images

Ear anatomy

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Audiometry Overview

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Audiometry Risks

Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)