Pure tone audiometry: understanding the PTA test.
Pure tone audiometry, often shortened to PTA, is a hearing assessment performed by an audiologist using appropriate equipment. This guide explains the terms you may see on your report.
What happens during PTA?
You listen for tones through earphones and indicate when you hear them. The clinician varies the pitch and level to establish hearing thresholds for each ear. The test procedure is different from simply turning up phone volume.
What is an audiogram?
An audiogram plots hearing thresholds by frequency (Hz) and hearing level (dB HL). It shows results for each ear and measurement type. The clinician interprets the pattern alongside your history and other assessment findings.
Air conduction and bone conduction
Air-conduction testing sends sound through earphones. Bone-conduction testing uses a physical vibrator. These measurements can contribute to the clinician’s assessment of hearing-loss type; ordinary headphones do not replace a bone vibrator.
How AudSpeX supports the report
Clinicians enter measured thresholds in AudSpeX PTA reporting, choose graph symbols and apply a clinic letterhead. Published reports can be retrieved using matching patient details. The reporting feature does not itself establish your hearing thresholds.
Where to arrange an assessment
For Karachi, see the local audiology guide and Suno Bolo’s public contact details. Confirm test availability and appointments directly with the clinic.
Further information
General educational information, not an individual diagnosis. See the ASHA public information on types of hearing tests and manual pure-tone audiometry guidance.