What should you know about an audiometry reading?

The horizontal axis moves from lower to higher pitch, while the vertical axis represents sound level. Marks for the right and left ears show the threshold at each tested pitch. Points lower on the chart generally mean that a louder sound was needed for detection.

The clinician looks at the degree and shape of the threshold pattern, differences between ears, and whether results change across pitches. Air-conduction marks reflect the whole route through the outer, middle, and inner ear; bone-conduction marks assess the inner-ear pathway more directly.

Separation between air and bone thresholds can suggest that sound transmission through the outer or middle ear is contributing. Reduced thresholds without that separation can indicate involvement of the inner ear or auditory nerve. A mixed pattern contains features of both. The chart narrows possibilities but does not establish a diagnosis without history, examination, and complementary tests.

Ask the audiologist to point out which symbols belong to each ear and explain whether the test responses were consistent. Mention real-life difficulties such as following speech in noise, hearing a telephone, locating sounds, or coping with ringing, because a tone chart cannot capture every listening problem.

Keep a copy as a baseline for later comparison. Depending on the pattern and ear examination, the plan may involve clearing a canal blockage, checking middle-ear function, adding speech testing, discussing hearing devices, monitoring thresholds, or arranging medical evaluation.

Urgency is based on the hearing change and accompanying symptoms, not simply where marks sit on the chart. Seek urgent medical assessment for hearing that drops suddenly, particularly on one side. New facial weakness, severe spinning dizziness, discharge with significant pain, or hearing change after head trauma also needs prompt attention.

When hearing has changed gradually without red-flag symptoms, book a routine clinical or audiology assessment. Do not rely on an online chart category to choose treatment, because similar-looking patterns can arise through different mechanisms.

Ask whether the loss is described as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed; whether one ear is meaningfully different; and how speech results compare with tone thresholds. It is also useful to ask what might explain the pattern, which additional checks are justified, and when repeat audiometry is appropriate.