A PTA test, short for pure tone audiometry, is the main part of a standard hearing test. It finds the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches, in each ear. The results are drawn on a chart called an audiogram. The test is painless and usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
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PTA stands for pure tone audiometry. A pure tone is a single, clear beep at one pitch. During the test, beeps are played at different pitches and volumes, one ear at a time, to find your hearing threshold at each pitch.
Your threshold is the softest level at which you can hear a tone about half of the times it is played. It is measured in decibels hearing level, written as dB HL. A lower number means you heard a softer sound.
A PTA test for the ear checks a range of pitches, usually from low tones around 250 Hz up to high tones around 8000 Hz. Speech uses many of these pitches, so the results can help explain why some words may sound unclear.
On some reports, PTA also stands for pure tone average. This is the average of your thresholds at a few key speech pitches, often 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz.
PTA is usually one part of a fuller hearing test.
You sit comfortably, listen and respond. The person testing you explains each step first.
The test takes place in a soundproof room or a quiet testing booth, so outside noise does not affect the results.
You wear headphones or soft insert earphones. Each ear is tested on its own.
Beeps are played at different pitches and volumes. Some are very soft. Each time you hear one, you raise your hand or press a button, even if the sound is very faint.
Sounds played through the headphones travel through the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. This part is called air conduction testing.
A small vibrating band is placed behind the ear or on the forehead. It sends sound through the bones of the skull straight to the inner ear, so the outer and middle ear are bypassed.
Sometimes a steady rushing noise is played in one ear while the other ear is tested. This is called masking. It stops the better ear from picking up sounds meant for the other ear.
A little preparation helps the results reflect your usual hearing.
The PTA test itself usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes for both ears. Your full visit may take longer, because it can include an ear check, other tests and time to go through your results. You can ask for a short break at any point.
Your PTA results are drawn on an audiogram. It looks like a graph, and it can seem confusing at first. Here is how to read it.
Across the chart is frequency, or pitch, measured in hertz (Hz). Low pitches are on the left and high pitches are on the right.
Down the side is loudness in dB HL. Soft sounds are at the top. A mark lower down means the sound had to be louder before you heard it.
Each ear has its own symbols. Often a red circle (O) marks the right ear and a blue cross (X) marks the left ear. Bone conduction uses other symbols, such as < and >.
| Degree | Hearing level (dB HL) | What it may mean day to day |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Up to 25 | Most everyday sounds and speech are heard without difficulty. |
| Mild | 26 to 40 | Soft speech and speech in noisy places may be hard to follow. |
| Moderate | 41 to 55 | Normal conversation may be hard to follow without hearing support. |
| Moderately severe | 56 to 70 | Speech may need to be loud to be heard. Group conversations are often difficult. |
| Severe | 71 to 90 | Most normal speech may not be heard without hearing support. |
| Profound | 91 and above | Even very loud sounds may not be heard clearly. |
These are commonly used ranges. Some guidelines, including the World Health Organization grades, use slightly different cut-offs, and some use 20 dB HL as the upper limit of normal. Your own results should be explained to you as a whole.
PTA measures the softest beeps you can hear. It is often done with other tests, each answering a different question. Not everyone needs every test.
Uses words instead of beeps. It checks the softest level at which you can hear speech, and how clearly you understand words at a comfortable loudness.
Checks how the eardrum moves when the air pressure in the ear canal is gently changed. It helps look for fluid behind the eardrum, pressure problems or a hole in the eardrum. It does not measure how well you hear.
After the test, your results are explained in simple language. The next step depends on what the audiogram shows.
If hearing aids may help, you can ask about a hearing aid trial or read about the types of hearing aids. A hearing test does not automatically mean you need hearing aids.
A PTA test is part of a standard hearing test at Sound for Life. Book online, or visit one of our 39 clinics across India. Our team will explain your audiogram in plain language.
Clear answers to common questions about pure tone audiometry and audiograms.
A PTA test, or pure tone audiometry, is a hearing test that finds the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches, in each ear. The results are shown on a chart called an audiogram.
No. You listen to beeps through headphones or soft earphones and respond when you hear them. The test is not painful.
The PTA test itself usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The full appointment may take longer if other tests and a discussion of your results are included.
On a commonly used scale, results up to 25 dB HL across the tested pitches are within the normal range. Some guidelines use 20 dB HL as the limit. Your results should be read as a whole, so ask the clinic to explain them.
PTA is the test. The audiogram is the chart that shows the results of the test.
It can give strong clues. Comparing air conduction and bone conduction results helps show whether hearing loss may be conductive, sensorineural or mixed. Other tests, such as tympanometry, may be used alongside it.
Older children can often do a PTA test, sometimes as a listening game. Babies and very young children usually need other tests, such as OAE or ABR, which do not need them to respond.