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Audiology - Results

Alternative Names

Audiometry; Hearing test; Audiography (audiogram)

Normal Values:

The ability to hear a whisper, normal speech, and a ticking watch is normal.
The ability to hear a tuning fork through air and bone is normal.
In detailed audiometry, hearing is normal if you can hear tones from 250 Hz - 8,000 Hz at 25 dB or lower.

What abnormal results mean:

There are many different kinds and degrees of hearing loss. In some types, you only lose the ability to hear high or low tones, or you lose only air or bone conduction. The inability to hear pure tones below 25 dB indicates some hearing loss.

The amount and type of hearing loss may give clues to the cause and outlook.

The following conditions may affect test results:

Acoustic neuroma
Acoustic trauma
Age-related hearing loss
Alport syndrome
Labyrinthitis
Meniere's disease
Occupational hearing loss
Otosclerosis
Ruptured or perforated eardrum

Ear anatomy

Reviewed last on: 10/10/2008
Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver, Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St Louis, Mo; Mosby; 2005:3466-3479.

Kerschner JE. Neonatal hearing screening: To do or not to do. Pediatr Clin North Am. June 2004; 51(3): 725-36, x.

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