Download SAMPLE AUDIOGRAM

EXPLANATION OF THE AUDIOGRAM
The goals of the Michigan Department of Community Health Hearing Screening Program are to identify hearing loss as
early as possible while reducing preventable hearing loss and middle ear disease. When a child is not hearing within a
“normal” range, a referral to a physician is made. This “normal” range is based upon State of Michigan guidelines that
were created in order to best serve Michigan’s children and families.
Below is a sample audiogram. The numbers in the boxes represent a passing threshold level according to the State
guidelines. A threshold is the softest level a person is able to hear and is measured in decibels. Your child should hear
somewhere within the range shown in each box in order to pass the hearing screening.
SAMPLE AUDIOGRAM
Frequencies in Hertz
250 Hz
RIGHT
EAR
AC
1000 Hz
30dB or less
25dB or less
20dB or less
*
*
30dB or less
25dB or less
2000 Hz
4000 Hz
8000 Hz
15dB or less
25dB or less
40dB or less
*
*
*
20dB or less
15dB or less
25dB or less
BC MASKED
UNMASKED BC
LEFT
EAR
500 Hz
AC
40dB or less
BC MASKED
™ Air Conduction (AC) – the method of finding the softest level a person can hear (the threshold) while wearing
headphones. Measured in decibels, ex. 20dB HL, 55dB HL
™ Bone Conduction (unmasked BC) – the method of finding thresholds with a bone conduction oscillator placed
behind the ear on the mastoid bone; sound is sent to the inner ear by vibrating the bones in the head.
*bone conduction referrals are determined by comparing AC & Unmasked BC
™ Bone Conduction Masked (BC Masked) – a measure utilized by audiologists who may participate in Otology
Clinics hosted by the Local Health Department.
™ Frequency – the pitch of a sound. For example, 250 Hertz (Hz) and 500 Hz are low frequency sounds and
4000 Hz and 8000 Hz are high frequency sounds.
™ Decibels – a measure of intensity or loudness. For example, 20dB is softer than 50dB
PARENTS NEXT STEPS
1. If your child did not pass their audiogram, please contact your physician for an appointment.
2. Take the paperwork provided to you by the Local Health Department to your physician; have him/her complete
the diagnosis, treatment and recommendations.
3. Ask the physician to fax/send the results of the medical appointment to your Local Health Department at the
number/address on the forms.
4. All children who are referred to the doctor will automatically be checked the following year in school by the
Hearing Screening Program.
Frequency Spectrum of Familiar Sounds
Frequency (Pitch) In Cycles Per Second (Hz)
12S
2S0
SOO
1000
2000
4000
8000Hz
0
10
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20
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60
l
70
t!,
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...J,
80
O't
CG
C
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Telephone
~
a 90
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J:
Chain Saw
10
110
Jeck Hammer
120
Cun Shot
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The speech sounds on this chart are only approximations. Speech sounds become loud or soft (intensity)
depending on the distance between the speaker and listener. The low or high sound of a voice (pitch) will
change depending on whether a man, woman or child is speaking.
Adapted from: American Academy ofAudiology, www.audiology.org and Northern, }.& Downs, M. (2002).
Audiogtam of familiar sounds; and Ling, D. & Ling, A (1978). Aural Habilitation.
1 John Tracy Clinic, 806 West Adams
Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90007
2005