Pure Tone Audiometry

Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is a hearing test used to identify hearing threshold levels or hearing sensitivity of an individual, enabling determination of the degree, type and configuration of a hearing loss.

Hearing sensitivity is plotted on an audiogram, which is a graph displaying intensity as a function of frequency.

The human ear can detect frequencies from 20-20,000 Hz.

The audiogram is a chart of hearing sensitivity with frequency charted on the X Coordinate (abscissa) and intensity on the Y Coordinate (ordinate).

Intensity is the level of sound power measured in decibels.

Hearing:

Normal hearing (0-25 dB): At this level, hearing is within normal limits.

Mild hearing loss (26-40 dB)

Moderate hearing loss (41-55 dB)

Moderate-severe hearing loss (56-70 dB)

Severe hearing loss (71-90 dB)

Profound hearing loss (>90 dB)