An audiometry exam tests how well your hearing functions. It tests both the intensity and tone of sounds, balance, and other issues related to the inner ear.

Hearing loss typically comes with age but can affect anyone. According to a 2013 study, at least 25% of people over age 50 years experience hearing loss, and 50% of people over age 80 years experience it.

One way to test for hearing loss is through the use of audiometry. A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, called an audiologist, administers the test.

The unit of measure for sound intensity is the decibel (dB). A healthy human ear can hear quiet sounds like whispers, which are about 20 dB. A loud sound, such as a jet engine, is between 140 and 180 dB.

The tone of a sound is measured in cycles per second. The unit of measure for tone is hertz (Hz). Low bass tones measure around 50 Hz. Humans can hear tones between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Human speech generally falls in the 500- to 3,000-Hz range.

A doctor performs an audiometry test to determine how well you can hear. They may do this as part of a routine screening or in response to a noticeable loss of hearing.

Common causes of hearing loss include:

  • birth defects
  • chronic ear infections
  • inherited conditions, such as otosclerosis, which occurs when an abnormal growth of bone prevents structures within the ear from functioning properly
  • an injury to the ear
  • inner ear diseases, such as Ménière’s disease or an autoimmune disease that affects the inner ear
  • regular exposure to loud noises
  • a ruptured eardrum

Damage to the ear or exposure to loud sounds for a long period can cause hearing loss. Sounds louder than 85 dB, such as the music you hear at a rock concert, can cause hearing loss after only a few hours.

It’s good to use hearing protection, such as foam earplugs, if you’re exposed to loud music or industrial noise on a regular basis.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when hair cells in the cochlea aren’t working properly. The cochlea is the part of the ear that translates sound vibrations into nerve impulses to be sent to your brain.

Sensorineural hearing loss can also occur due to damage to the nerve that carries sound information to your brain or damage to the part of your brain that processes this information. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. It may be classified as mild, moderate, severe, or profound.

Audiometry is noninvasive and carries no risk.

An audiometry exam requires no special preparation. All you have to do is show up to your appointment on time and follow the audiologist’s instructions.

Audiometry involves a few different tests. A pure tone test measures the quietest sound you can hear at different pitches. It involves using an audiometer, which is a machine that plays sounds via headphones.

Your audiologist or an assistant will play a variety of tones at different intervals into one ear at a time to determine your range of hearing. The audiologist will give you instructions for each sound. Most likely, they’ll ask you to raise your hand when you can hear a sound.

Another hearing test allows your audiologist to assess your ability to understand speech. A sound sample will be played for you and you’ll be asked to repeat the words you hear. Word recognition can be helpful in diagnosing hearing loss.

This test doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort and takes about an hour.

After the test, your audiologist will review your results with you.

Depending on how well you hear volume and tone, your doctor will tell you about any preventive measures you should take, such as wearing earplugs around loud noises, or any corrective measures you may need, such as wearing a hearing aid.