What Hearing Test Results Mean for Cheltenham Patients
The results of a hearing assessment are typically plotted on an audiogram which can appear to be confusing at first but when broken down allows for the interpretation of results and aid in decisions for future assessments.
Reading the Audiogram
An audiogram is plotted with frequency (pitch) along the top and decibels alongside. A person’s marks on an audiogram indicate how soft a sound they can hear. The lower the mark the softer the sound can be before it is perceived.
Decibel Loss Categories
The level of hearing loss is often recorded as a number between 26 dB and 40 dB for a mild loss. The person with a mild loss will find quiet speech difficult to understand. For a moderate loss the decibel range is 41 dB to 70 dB. This type of loss affects the person’s ability to hold conversation in everyday situations. A severe or profound loss is above 70 dB. In these cases there is often significant hearing aid benefit or even a specialist referral is recommended.
Speech Discrimination Scores
A pure-tone average gives an indication of how hard you can hear sounds of different frequencies. A measure of how clearly you can repeat words that you have heard at comfortable levels is described as a speech discrimination score. The score can be low even when your pure-tone average is normal.
Flat Versus Sloping Results
A flat audiogram means that you have an equal loss of equal amount at all frequencies. A sloping audiogram means that the loss is greater at high frequencies. This is a very common type of hearing loss and means that the consonants such as ‘s’ and ‘f’ will be the first to go in speech.
What Results Recommend as Next Steps
Mild hearing loss is often monitored at a future Hearing Test Cheltenham appointment. Moderate hearing loss is suitable for hearing aids. Asymmetrical or sudden hearing loss should be referred to a specialist to rule out any underlying condition. More on Hearing Test Cheltenham can be found at www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/cheltenham/.
Your results are the starting point of your journey and a starting point for a conversation about your hearing loss and what you can do about it.
