What should you know about pure tone audiometry air?

During air-conduction testing, headphones or insert earphones deliver tones into each ear. You press a button or raise your hand whenever a tone is heard, including very quiet tones. The audiogram records the softest level detected at several pitches. Because sound travels through the ear canal and middle ear before reaching the inner ear, a reduced result can reflect a blockage, middle-ear problem, or inner-ear hearing change. Air testing alone may not show which part is responsible.

Mention earwax, recent colds, allergies, ear infections, ringing, dizziness, and exposure to loud sound. Sit still and respond only to tones you detect. Do not try to match the timing of another sound. If the audiologist finds a difference between ears or an unusual pattern, they may add bone-conduction or speech testing and inspect the ear canal.

Seek prompt care for hearing that changes suddenly, especially in one ear, or for hearing loss with intense spinning dizziness or new neurological symptoms. Arrange an appointment for persistent blocked hearing, ear discharge, pain, or recurrent imbalance. These features need clinical assessment rather than interpretation from the chart alone.

Ask whether the air-conduction pattern points toward a blocked sound pathway or inner-ear change, whether both ears responded similarly, and what additional test would clarify the finding.