Understanding Your Hearing Test: Frequencies, Decibels and More

Whether you’ve beginning noticing the signs of hearing loss, or someone you love has recently told you they suspect you may be struggling to hear, the next step is the same – scheduling a hearing test with a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). Having a hearing test performed won’t just tell you if you have hearing loss or not, it will provide a wealth of insight into how severe your condition is and what solution will be best for your personal preferences.

What Will Happen During Your Hearing Test?

Before we start decoding the terminology used for hearing test results, let’s take a quick look at what occurs during the test itself. The good news is that the testing process is simple and relatively quick. Typically, you will be asked to sit in a soundproof cubicle and listen to some sounds. Your hearing test specialist will play sounds at different pitches starting at a low volume and building to a higher one. All you have to do is tell them which you can hear, and they will record these answers.

Frequencies and Decibels

As you now know your hearing test will involve you listening to sounds. These sounds are not random but work along a specific scale that measures decibels and frequencies. These results are then plotted on your hearing test graph to show if you have any hearing loss. However, to fully understand both the process and the chart, it’s a good idea to know a bit about what the terms frequencies and decibels mean.

• Decibels: The term decibels concerns the energetic intensity (volume) of the sound.
• Frequencies: The term frequency refers to the pitch of a sound. Technically this means how many times a sound wave repeats itself every second.

Your hearing test must cover not only decibels but also frequency because many people can struggle to hear certain frequencies even within the same sound volume (decibel level).

How to Read Your Hearing Test Graph

Once your hearing test has been completed, you will be presented with a graph. Your hearing instrument specialist will be able to help you decode this, but it never hurts to familiarize yourself with the information.

A hearing test graph is usually presented as a square. The vertical access measures the volume or decibels of the sound played, while the horizontal access across the top of the graph measures the sound frequency or pitch of the sound played to you during your hearing test. To read the graph, we will begin in the top left corner, this will show the lowest frequency and the lowest decibels. People with no hearing loss can hear every frequency at the lowest decibel level which is 25db. However, people with some hearing loss may not be able to hear certain frequencies at that or other decibel levels. It is this information that is used to work out the severity of your hearing loss.

For example, if you can hear a frequency at 0-25dBs then you have no hearing loss at that frequency. However, if you cannot hear a frequency until the decibels hit 20-40, then you will be exhibiting mild hearing loss at that frequency and so on according to the chart below.

• Normal hearing: 0-25dBs
• Mild hearing loss: 20-40dBs
• Moderate hearing loss: 40-70dBs
• Severe hearing loss: 70-90dBs
• Profound hearing loss: 90+dBs

What Happens if Hearing Loss is Discovered?

If your hearing test specialist finds that you are experiencing some hearing loss then they will be able to advise you on the next steps of your treatment. Often this will include being fitted for a hearing aid which will help to combat the loss you are experiencing at certain frequencies.

There is no need to be concerned about wearing a hearing aid as there is a wide range of hearing devices that are now available, some of which are even worn inside the ear canal and are practically invisible. Additionally, many studies have shown that there are several serious psychological issues that hearing loss can cause such as depression, relationship issues and even cognitive decline. All of which are largely preventable just by the simple act of wearing a hearing device.

Scheduling a Hearing Test

Now you know more about how hearing tests work, what to expect, and the help your local hearing test specialist can offer. However, if you would like to learn more, have your hearing tested or schedule a consultation, just call Galco Hearing Aid Service at (281) 245-0520. Our friendly, and expert hearing test team will be only too happy to answer your questions and support you in any way possible.