Understanding Your Hearing Test: Frequencies, Decibels and More

When it comes to your health, certain aspects can go unnoticed until they become a concern. Your hearing ability can often be overlooked, especially when it occurs gradually and is difficult to detect on your own. Most people tend to take their hearing for granted until it starts to diminish. If you suspect you’re not hearing as well as you once did, it’s a good idea to schedule a hearing test. With a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). This professional will be able to test your hearing and recommend the proper solution for your needs.

The Importance of a Hearing Test

Hearing tests are a crucial aspect of your overall health, yet they are often overlooked. Many individuals assume that hearing loss is a natural part of aging and fail to realize that it can have a significant impact on their quality of life. Regular hearing tests, performed by a HIS, can help identify any issues early on, allowing for timely intervention.

The Hearing Test Process

Your HIS will begin by discussing your symptoms and any concerns you may have about your hearing. This information can help tailor the evaluation to your specific needs, but it may include:

• Tympanometry: This evaluates the health of your middle ear by measuring how your eardrum responds to changes in air pressure. It is a painless procedure and provides valuable information about the condition of your ear.
• Pure-tone testing: This is the core of your hearing test. You’ll wear headphones, and your HIS will play a series of tones at various frequencies and volumes. Your task is to signal when you hear a sound by raising your hand or pressing a button.
• Speech audiometry: This assesses your ability to understand speech. You’ll listen to recorded words or sentences at different volumes and repeat them back. This helps determine how well you can hear and understand spoken language.

Understanding Frequencies in the Hearing Test

When you hear different sounds, what you’re actually perceiving are different frequencies. These frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz) and are divided into different categories:

• Low Frequencies (20-250 Hz): Low, double-digit frequencies tend to refer to deep, bass-like sounds, like the rumble of thunder or the thud of a drum. Three-digit frequencies are sounds such as vowel sounds.
• Mid Frequencies (250-2000 Hz): Mid frequencies encompass most of the sounds in human speech. When you have a conversation, these are the frequencies that convey consonants like “s” and “sh.”
• High Frequencies (2000-8000 Hz): High frequencies include the sharp, treble sounds, like a whistle or a bird’s chirp. Most speeches can go as high as 6000 Hz.

Normal and healthy hearing will encompass the ability to perceive sounds across the entire frequency spectrum, from the low rumbles to the high-pitched chirps. It means being able to engage in conversations, enjoy music, and appreciate the subtle sounds of everyday life without difficulty.

Decoding Decibels in the Hearing Test

In addition to frequencies, hearing tests also measure the intensity of sounds, which is expressed in decibels (dBs). The softest sound that the average human ear can detect is typically set at 0dBs. Sounds below this threshold are considered quieter, while those above it are louder.

To give you some perspective, a whisper registers at about 20dBs. Normal conversation hovers around 60dBs. A rock concert can reach 120dBs or more. Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85dBs can lead to hearing damage, so it’s essential to protect your ears in noisy environments.

Normal and healthy hearing means being able to hear sounds at various decibel levels without discomfort or distortion. It allows you to participate fully in social interactions and enjoy a wide range of auditory experiences without strain.

Understanding Your Audiogram

One crucial aspect of a hearing test is the creation of an audiogram. An audiogram is a visual representation of your hearing abilities, displayed on a graph. The horizontal axis represents frequency, with low frequencies on the left and high frequencies on the right. The vertical axis represents intensity, with softer sounds at the top and louder sounds at the bottom. Your hearing thresholds are plotted on this graph, showing which frequencies and volumes you can hear comfortably and which ones pose challenges.

Your HIS will explain your results in detail and discuss any potential treatments during this appointment. Hearing aids are the most commonly recommended solution and come in a variety of styles and sizes.

If you suspect you have hearing loss or if you know you haven’t checked your hearing health in a while, don’t hesitate to reach out to a HIS. At Hearing At Home Hearing Center, our dedicated team is only a phone call away. Call us now at (540) 534-0070 to book your hearing test.