Hearing and Audiograms

[Solittle]

Does anyone know how to read an audiogram? The VA has asked me for my old ones. They are in three columns and look like:

KHZ L R

.5 NT. NT.
1 40. 45.
2 60. 40.
3 50. 45.
4 75. 85.
6 70. 85.
8 80. 70.

My guess is that KHZ is for kiloherz, L = left ear, R = right ear and NT = not tested. What do the other numbers or readings mean?

It is time for me to either get an ear trumpet or hearing aids. Damnnnnnn!!!

 

[dchris]

Re: Hearing and Audiograms

http://www.earinfo.com/howread1.html

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Hearing and Audiograms

I don't know what the numbers mean SL, but I have the same problem.
22 years OTR with all the truck noise in my left ear all the time, it is just about gone.
Last I checked, 1500 bucks for 1

Dang, I can say HUH? lot's of time for that kinda money.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Hearing and Audiograms

SBN - Well I checked myself by doing the old Google thing. Here is one of the better explanations:

http://www.bcchildrens.ca/NR/rdonly...4-FCB4445A5850/17246/Audiogram_405_June06.pdf

I have done some research on hearing aids and I thing the entire industry is a rip off. But my challenge now is how to keep their hands out of my pocket for the longest time possible. My audio Dr. susggested that I look into seeing if I can get the VA to buy the hearing aids since I'm a Viet Nam era vet (fortunately I never got sent to Nam though). I am gathering the info now - hence the above question. The VA is very slow in reviewing applications for benefits and I don't have a clue on whether they will approve or not but gotta try.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: Hearing and Audiograms

My dad is a WWII vet, but since his hearing loss was not combat related, his similar request was rejected. He was a small arms instructor for a year during his WWII Army career, and they didn't use ear protection back then, but his claim that it therefore WAS military service related fell on 'deaf' ears, lol. But keep trying, you might find a clerk in the VA that is more sympathetic.

And you are right about the industry. He and I are both electrical engineers with a lot of additional experience in acoustics... We can't believe how crappy the current crop of hearing aids (even the expensive ones) are. We keep thinking we should design and market something that truly meets the varying needs of the hearing impaired, without the current idiotic problems, like incessant feedback in in-ear units. (the cell phone industry tackled that one a long time ago in earpieces with active cancellation) Oh well, maybe someday. It's a pretty closed industry. Don't know whether a couple of upstarts could break into it.

BTW, the other numbers are your hearing response loss at each frequencey in dB (deciBells) relative to that of normal hearing.