audiogram
C1Technical/Specialist
Definition
Meaning
A graph showing the results of a hearing test.
The printout or visual representation of an audiometric test, plotting hearing threshold levels (in decibels) against sound frequency (in Hertz), used to diagnose hearing loss and determine its type and severity. It is also the official report or record from such a test.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is primarily used in audiology, medicine, and hearing healthcare contexts. It refers specifically to the graphical chart, not the test itself (which is an 'audiometry' or 'hearing test').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'audiogram' identically.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language but standard and frequent within the specialist fields of audiology and otolaryngology in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The ENT specialist interpreted [the patient's] audiogram.The test results were plotted on [an] audiogram.According to [the] audiogram, she has high-frequency hearing loss.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. May appear in contexts related to healthcare equipment sales or occupational health screenings.
Academic
Standard in audiology, speech and hearing sciences, otolaryngology, and related medical research papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Used only when discussing specific medical results with a healthcare professional.
Technical
Core term in audiology clinics, hearing aid fittings, noise exposure assessments, and medical diagnostics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor has a picture of my hearing called an audiogram.
- After the hearing test, the audiologist showed me my audiogram.
- The audiogram clearly indicated a mild hearing loss in the higher frequencies.
- By comparing the current audiogram with the baseline from five years ago, the consultant could track the progression of the noise-induced hearing loss.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'AUDIO' (relating to hearing) + 'GRAM' (a drawing or record), like a 'telegram' for your ears – it's a message from your hearing test.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEARING IS A MEASURABLE LANDSCAPE (the audiogram charts the 'contours' of hearing ability across different 'pitches').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'аудиограмма', which can colloquially refer to an audio recording. In English, it is exclusively the hearing test chart.
- Do not confuse with 'audiograph' (an obsolete term for a device).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'audiogram' to mean the test procedure itself (correct: 'audiometry').
- Pronouncing it /ˌɔː.diˈɒɡ.rə.m/ (incorrect stress; stress is on the first syllable).
Practice
Quiz
An audiogram is primarily used to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The hearing test is the procedure (audiometry). The audiogram is the specific graph or chart that displays the results of that test.
It is generated by an audiometer (the testing machine) and interpreted by an audiologist or a doctor specialising in ear disorders (otolaryngologist/ENT).
Yes. A 'normal audiogram' shows hearing threshold levels within the typical range (usually 0-20 dB HL) across all tested frequencies, indicating no significant hearing loss.
The vertical axis (Y-axis) represents hearing level/loudness in decibels (dB HL). The horizontal axis (X-axis) represents sound frequency/pitch in Hertz (Hz), from low (left) to high (right).