Bone conduction thresholds are obtained via an oscillating transducer placed on the mastoid process. Pure-tone evaluations are performed in sound-treated rooms to eliminate ambient noise while obtaining hearing thresholds for both air-conducted and bone-conducted sounds. Air conduction tones are presented through inserted earphones or over-the-ear headphones. This review aims to explore the basic principles of audiometry and discuss the audiogram's interpretation, including examples of common pathologies that can be diagnosed via audiometry. ĭespite the ability of this powerful tool to guide clinical practice in managing patients with hearing loss, many healthcare providers have difficulty accurately interpreting an audiogram. In contrast, bone conduction measures transmission only from the inner ear to the CNS. Air conduction measures sound transmission from the outer ear, through the middle ear, and into the inner ear, where signals are sent to the central nervous system (CNS) for auditory processing. The configurations and patterns displayed on the audiogram help healthcare providers to understand the etiology and severity of a patient's hearing loss.Īudiograms are most useful for objectively identifying deficits in hearing by looking at how sound travels through the auditory system via air conduction or bone conduction. Audiometric testing utilizes various intensities of sound emitted over a range of frequencies to determine deficits in hearing, and results are plotted on a graph known as an audiogram. Subtle findings in young patients may warrant referral for audiometry, as children with even slight hearing impairment may suffer from speech and language delays.Īudiometric threshold data, also known as pure-tone testing, have been used clinically since the 1920s to categorize the degree and type of hearing loss. Accurately diagnosing and managing hearing loss is essential in patients of all ages, whether for safety and quality of life in adults or for developmental reasons in children. More than 16% of adult Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. This activity reviews the interpretation of audiograms and their role in identifying patterns of otologic disease. Audiograms are most useful for objectively identifying deficits in hearing by looking at how sound travels through the auditory system via air conduction or bone conduction. Furthermore, various etiologies of hearing loss may demonstrate characteristic patterns on the audiogram, making this testing modality critical for diagnostic purposes. The audiogram quantifies and visually displays a patient's degree and type of hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed). Audiometry is an essential means of assessing hearing thresholds in patients presenting with hearing loss.

Equal loudness and hl decibel scale