Do I Really Need Hearing Aids? What the Audiogram Actually Tells You

Written By Alexandra Yu

If you've recently had a hearing test and walked out clutching a piece of paper covered in X's and O's, you're not alone in feeling confused. The audiogram is one of the most useful tools in audiology and one of the least explained. 

Here's what it actually means, and what it means for you.

What the audiogram shows

An audiogram maps two things: how soft a sound can be before you stop hearing it (threshold), and across which pitches. The horizontal axis is frequency - from low rumbles on the left to high-pitched consonants on the right (think piano keys). The vertical axis is volume, measured in decibels (think television volume).

The X's represent your left ear. The O's are your right. The bigger the number, the more hearing loss is present at that frequency.

Most age-related hearing loss shows up first in the high frequencies - the sounds that make speech clear, like S, F, and TH. That's why people with early hearing loss often say "I can hear people talking, I just can't make out what they're saying." That's not confusion. That's a high-frequency loss showing up on an audiogram.

So do you need hearing aids?

Not necessarily or maybe not yet. Hearing aids are typically recommended when:

  • The degree and configuration of hearing loss vary, but generally if you have at least a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss, you may benefit from hearing aids. 

  • You're struggling to follow conversations in noise

  • The people around you have noticed before you have

Mild loss doesn't always require immediate intervention. What it does require is monitoring. An untreated loss that goes unchecked for years is harder to rehabilitate later because the brain gradually loses its ability to process sounds it hasn't been receiving.

What I tell my patients

The audiogram is a starting point, not a verdict. Hearing aids are not mandatory, but the devices can be a great treatment option. A single test result doesn't tell me everything I need to know about how hearing loss is affecting your life. That's why the conversation we have at your appointment matters as much as the numbers on the page.

The bottom line

Don't ignore a hearing test result because the loss seems small. And don't assume you need hearing aids just because a number fell below a line. 

If you have questions about your audiogram or want a second opinion on a previous result, schedule a virtual “Meet & Greet”.


Alexandra Yu, AuD

Alexandra Yu