Automated audiometry: A review of the implementation and evaluation methods. cdc.gov/niosh/mining/userfiles/works/pdfs/2008-102.pdf Inquiring ears want to know: A fact sheet about your hearing test.bcchildrens.ca/health-info/coping-support/hearing-problems/how-to-read-an-audiogram Data-driven audiogram classification for mobile audiometry. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Profound refers to thresholds greater than 85 decibels.Severe refers to thresholds that range between 66–85 decibels you may only be able to hear someone if they are talking loudly and very close to you and cannot hear other sounds around you.The entire audible frequency range can be divided into 8 or 24 frequency bands known as octave bands or 1/3 octave bands respectively for analysis. The sounds we hear comprise of various frequencies. Moderate refers to thresholds that range between 45–65 decibels you struggle to hear conversations no matter the setting and have extreme difficulty hearing conversations in noisy spaces. The range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz is called the audible frequency range.Mild refers to thresholds that range between 26–40 decibels you may be able to talk with people face to face and understand them perfectly but struggle to hear sounds from far away, quiet talking, or conversations in louder spaces.There are several levels of hearing loss: There are other parts to audiometry testing that look at aspects of hearing such as: Your doctor may suggest a follow-up audiometry hearing test at a later date to make sure your hearing does not get worse. You may have slight hearing loss between 16 and 25 decibels, but this may not require further correction. Normal hearing measures between -10 and 15 decibels for every threshold. A line lower on the chart indicates more extreme hearing loss.A line that slopes downward for higher frequencies is common in aging-related hearing loss.

A line with rises and drops along the chart indicates hearing loss for particular frequencies.A steady line connecting your threshold levels at the top of the chart indicates normal hearing.You may be able to glance at your audiogram to determine whether you have hearing loss:

Decibel range