An audiogram is a graph that shows someone’s hearing ability, created by conducting a hearing test. It can be used to compare hearing to others and identify problem areas. The test is conducted in a controlled environment and won’t reveal auditory processing disorders. It is recommended that children and those in loud occupations get regular hearing tests.
An audiogram is a graph that visually represents someone’s hearing. The graph is created by conducting a hearing test in which the softest sounds someone can hear are noted. When these sounds are plotted, the result is an audiogram. Audiograms can be compared to similar charts from other people to learn more about someone’s hearing and determine whether or not it is common for the person’s gender, range, and overall health. They can also be interpreted as stand-alone documents for identifying problem areas in someone’s auditory anger.
The audiogram has two values. Along one axis, usually the horizontal axis, the graph is marked with frequencies from low to high. The other axis of the graph documents decibels, starting at zero decibels at the top and descending to much louder sounds at the bottom. If all values on the audiogram fall above the 20 decibel line, it indicates that the subject has normal hearing and can hear sounds within the range of human speech, an area on the graph known as the “speech banana.”
Audiograms have two lines, one for the left ear and one for the right ear. The graph uses different symbols to plot values for different ears. It is important to note that the testing used to generate an audiogram takes place in a highly controlled environment and that someone’s actual hearing ability can vary. Audiograms also won’t reveal problems with auditory processing. A person with auditory processing disorder may have a flawless audiogram but still have difficulty understanding spoken language.
One test used to develop an audiogram is a hearing test in which the subject wears headphones and the tones are played. The subject signals when he hears a tone and the value is scored by the test administrator. This test is an air conduction test, which means it shows how well sounds are conducted through the air in the ear. In a bone conduction test, a sensor is placed on the mastoid bone to detect vibrations moving through the ear. Different results on these tests can provide clues as to why someone is experiencing hearing loss.
It is generally recommended that children be checked for hearing loss regularly, along with people in occupations that expose them to loud noise, such as construction workers and musicians. For healthy adults, hearing tests should be conducted periodically. Sometimes hearing loss is gradual and people may not realize they have a hearing problem.
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