An audiometry exam tests your ability to hear sounds. Sounds vary based on their loudness (intensity) and the speed of sound wave vibrations (tone).

Hearing occurs when sound waves stimulate the nerves of the inner ear. The sound then travels along nerve pathways to the brain.

Sound waves can travel to the inner ear through the ear canal, eardrum, and bones of the middle ear (air conduction). They can also pass through the bones around and behind the ear (bone conduction).

The INTENSITY of sound is measured in decibels (dB):

 A whisper is about 20 dB

 Loud music (some concerts) is around 80 – 120 dB

 A jet engine is about 140 – 180 dB

Sounds greater than 85 dB can cause hearing loss after a few hours. Louder sounds can cause immediate pain, and hearing loss can develop in a very short time.

The TONE of sound is measured in cycles per second (cps) or Hertz:

 Low bass tones range around 50 – 60 Hz

 Shrill, high-pitched tones range around 10,000 Hz or higher

The normal range of human hearing is about 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. Some animals can hear up to 50,000 Hz. Human speech is usually 500 – 3,000 Hz.

How The Test Is Performed

The first steps are to see whether you need an audiogram. The procedure most often involves blocking one ear at a time and checking your ability to hear whispers, spoken words, or the sound of a ticking watch.