Pure tone audiometry is a hearing test that measures how well a person can hear different pitches or frequencies of sound. It involves presenting tones at various intensities and frequencies to determine the softest sound a person can hear at each frequency, known as the hearing threshold. This information is then plotted on an audiogram, a graph that shows the individual’s hearing sensitivity across different frequencies.

Sounds, or tones, are played through headphones or insert earphones at different frequencies (pitches) and intensities (loudness). The tester gradually increases or decreases the intensity of the tones until the person indicates they can hear the sound. The lowest intensity at which the person can hear the tone, 50% of the time, is recorded as their hearing threshold for that specific frequency.

Pure tone audiometry helps identify the presence, type, and degree of hearing loss. It allows for tracking changes in hearing sensitivity over time. The results of pure tone audiometry are used to select and fit appropriate hearing aids.