Pure-tone audiometry is a relatively simple procedure that is performed in every clinic where Dr. Carlo Govoni visits.
Pure Tone Audiometry is a subjective and behavioural measurement of hearing threshold. Pure Tone Audiometry providing the foundamental basis for audiological diagnosis and their management. Pure Tone Audiometry is the best examination for assessment of a hearing loss.
The audiograms show the frequency in hertz (Hz) on the horizontal axis and a dBHL scale on the vertical axis. The frequencies between 125 Hz and 3.000 Hz represent 77% of the sounds necessary to understand the human voice (importance of speech intelligibility).
Until hearing loss within 20 dB, hearing is normal.
Audiogram of a subject with normal hearing.
The right ear is in red, the left side in blue.
Loss of 25 dB or more is diagnosed as mild hypacusia. The degree of hearing loss is classified as mild, moderate, severe or profound.
| Normal hearing | up to 20 dB |
| Mild hearing loss | between 25 and 40 dB |
| Moderate hearing loss | between 45 and 70 dB |
| Severe hearing loss | between 75 and 90 dB |
| Profound deafness | hearing loss greater than 95 dB |
Audiologist uses the average hearing loss
calculated on the frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz.
This parameter is called PTA (Pure Tones Average).
The results of PTA are a useful indicator of hearing loss.
Audiogram of a subject with severe bilateral hypacusia.
As always in the audiology in red the right ear; in blue left ear.
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Audiogram of a subject whit acute acoustic trauma in the right ear
and normal hearing on the left side.
The image indicates the importance of pure tone Audiometry (Tonal Audiometry)
in the approach of patients with Tinnitus.
This is the first instrumental exam.
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See also:
- Otoscopy
- Ringing, whistling, humming, buzzing and tinnitus are noise in the ear
