Pure-Tone Audiometry: What It Is and How It Detects Hearing Loss

When you hear a beep in a quiet room and raise your hand, you’re taking part in pure-tone audiometry, a standard hearing test that measures your ability to hear sounds at different pitches and volumes. Also known as air conduction testing, it’s the most common way doctors find out if your hearing has changed over time. This isn’t a fancy scan or a complicated machine—it’s simple, reliable, and used everywhere from clinics to schools to military bases.

Pure-tone audiometry doesn’t just tell you if you can hear—it tells you exactly which frequencies you’re missing. High-pitched sounds like birds chirping or children’s voices? That’s often the first to go. Low rumbles like a bass guitar? Those usually stay clear longer. The results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram, a visual record of your hearing sensitivity across frequencies, which helps doctors spot patterns. Is it noise damage? Aging? An ear infection? The shape of the line on the audiogram gives them clues.

It’s not just for older adults. Kids get tested before starting school. Factory workers, musicians, and veterans get regular screenings. Even if you think your hearing is fine, a routine test can catch early signs of damage you didn’t notice—like struggling to follow conversations in noisy rooms or turning up the TV too loud. This test doesn’t require you to say anything. No reading, no memorizing. Just listen and respond. That’s why it’s trusted by doctors worldwide.

What you won’t find in this test? Ear infections, tumors, or balance problems. That’s where other tests come in. But pure-tone audiometry is the first step—the baseline. It’s what your doctor uses to decide if you need a hearing aid, further testing, or just a follow-up in a year. And because it’s so straightforward, it’s often covered by insurance or offered for free at community health events.

Below, you’ll find real-life guides on how hearing loss affects daily life, what medications might impact your ears, how to protect your hearing at work, and how to talk to your doctor about test results. These aren’t theory pieces—they’re practical tips from people who’ve been through it. Whether you’re worried about your own hearing or helping someone else, these posts will help you understand what the numbers on an audiogram really mean—and what to do next.