The results of a hearing test are plotted on a graph called an audiogram.

If you look at the audiogram below you will get an idea of the placing of familiar sounds such as a dog barking or a telephone ringing. The hearing level in dB is plotted on the audiogram from top to bottom with the quiet sounds near the top. The pitch or frequency in Hz is plotted from left to right with the low-pitch sounds to the left.

Compare your child's audiogram to the chart below and get an idea of the kinds of speech and environmental sounds your child can hear and cannot hear.

(A = Hearing Level in Decibels (dB) and B = Frequency in Hertz (Hz))

An audiogram tells you whether your child actually has a hearing loss, and if so, what kind it is, and how severe it is. This will help the audiologist decide what solution is best for your child.

The audiogram below shows the result of a hearing test performed on a child's ears. The results from the left ear are indicated by the X. The results from the child's right ear are indicated by an O. This audiogram shows that the child has mild to moderate hearing loss on the left ear and normal hearing on the right ear.

(A = Hearing Level in Decibels (dB) and B = Frequency in Hertz (Hz))

Generally, the degree of hearing loss is described using one of five categories. The notation "dB HL" refers to the hearing level in decibels.

• Mild (average from 25-40 dB HL)
• Moderate (average from 40-55 dB HL)
• Moderate/Severe (average 55–70 dB HL)
• Severe (average from 70-90 HL)
• Profound (average greater than 90 dB HL)

Even though two children have the same degree of hearing loss, the way it affects them varies, depending on their age and general abilities. By having your child's hearing tested by an audiologist you will find out what sounds you can expect your child to be able to hear.