Audiometry / Audiogram Test in Pakistan at Chughtai Lab

Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab

Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab is a highly specialized, non-invasive diagnostic evaluation designed to assess an individual’s hearing sensitivity and overall auditory function. This essential diagnostic test measures the quietest sounds a patient can hear at different frequencies (pitches) and intensities (volumes). By mapping these thresholds, clinical audiologists and ENT specialists can determine the precise type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss. The auditory system is a complex pathway comprising the outer ear, the middle ear (including the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain), the inner ear (specifically the cochlea), and the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) which transmits signals to the temporal lobe of the brain. An Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab evaluates each of these components to provide a clear picture of a patient’s auditory health.

As a premier diagnostic network in Pakistan, Chughtai Lab utilizes state-of-the-art audiometers and calibrated soundproof booths to ensure maximum accuracy. The diagnostic value of an audiogram is immense; it serves as the gold standard for identifying hearing impairments, guiding the prescription of hearing aids, planning reconstructive middle ear surgeries, and diagnosing complex neurological or vestibular conditions. Whether a patient is experiencing age-related hearing decline, occupational noise-induced hearing loss, or sudden unexplained hearing changes, this test provides the objective data necessary for effective clinical management. By choosing Chughtai Lab, patients across Pakistan benefit from standardized testing protocols, highly trained clinical staff, and detailed diagnostic reporting that facilitates seamless coordination with ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists.

Clinical Procedure: What to Expect

Patient Preparation

To ensure the utmost accuracy during an Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab, patients are advised to follow these preparation guidelines:

• Avoid Loud Noise Exposure: Patients must avoid exposure to extremely loud noises, such as concerts, heavy machinery, firearms, or loud personal audio devices, for at least 16 to 24 hours prior to the test. This prevents a temporary threshold shift (TTS), which can artificially worsen test results.
• Ear Canal Clearance: It is highly recommended to have a clinician inspect the ear canals for impacted cerumen (earwax) before the test. Excessive earwax can block sound waves, leading to an inaccurate conductive hearing loss finding. If necessary, earwax removal should be performed prior to the audiometry session.
• Medical History Documentation: Patients should bring all relevant medical records, including previous audiograms, details of ear surgeries, history of ear infections, and a list of current medications (especially known ototoxic drugs like aminoglycosides or high-dose loop diuretics).
• Symptom Reporting: Inform the audiologist if you are currently experiencing a cold, sinus congestion, or active ear pain, as these conditions can temporarily affect middle ear pressure and alter the test results.
• No Fasting Required: There are no dietary restrictions or fasting requirements for this test. Patients can eat, drink, and take their routine non-ototoxic medications normally.

During the Procedure

The Audiometry / Audiogram procedure is entirely painless, safe, and non-invasive. When you arrive at Chughtai Lab, you will be guided into a specialized, acoustically treated soundproof booth designed to eliminate ambient environmental noise. The clinical audiologist will place calibrated over-ear headphones or soft insert earphones into your ears for air conduction testing. A bone conduction oscillator may also be placed on the mastoid bone behind your ear to evaluate the inner ear directly. The test typically proceeds as follows:

• Pure-Tone Audiometry (Air Conduction): The audiologist will play a series of tones at various pitches (frequencies ranging from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz) and volumes. You will be instructed to press a response button or raise your hand every time you hear a tone, even if it is extremely faint. Each ear is tested individually.
• Pure-Tone Audiometry (Bone Conduction): The bone oscillator transmits mechanical vibrations directly to the cochlea, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This helps differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
• Speech Audiometry: You will listen to a series of spoken words at different volume levels. You will be asked to repeat the words. This measures your Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) and Word Recognition Score (WRS), evaluating how well you understand speech in quiet and noisy settings.
• Duration and Comfort: The entire procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The environment is comfortable, and you can communicate with the audiologist at any time through an intercom system. There are no side effects, and you can resume normal activities immediately.

When is an Audiometry / Audiogram Performed?

Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)

Presbycusis is the gradual, progressive loss of hearing that occurs as individuals age. It typically affects both ears equally and is characterized by a decline in high-frequency hearing sensitivity. Patients often report difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, such as family gatherings or restaurants. Physicians recommend an Audiometry / Audiogram to document the onset and progression of presbycusis, allowing for timely intervention with hearing aids to maintain cognitive health and social engagement.

Occupational and Recreational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Individuals working in high-noise environments (such as factories, construction sites, or aviation) or those exposed to recreational noise (such as shooting sports or loud music) are at high risk for noise-induced hearing loss. This condition often manifests as a specific ‘noise notch’ on the audiogram at 4000 Hz. Regular audiometric screening at Chughtai Lab helps monitor industrial workers, ensuring compliance with occupational safety regulations and preventing permanent auditory damage.

Chronic Otitis Media and Middle Ear Disorders

Chronic middle ear infections, fluid accumulation behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion), and structural abnormalities like otosclerosis or a perforated eardrum can significantly impair hearing. An Audiometry / Audiogram is essential in these cases to quantify the degree of conductive hearing loss. By comparing air and bone conduction thresholds, the test helps ENT specialists determine if surgical intervention (such as tympanoplasty or stapedectomy) is indicated and monitors post-operative recovery.

Tinnitus and Vestibular Disorders

Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears) and vestibular symptoms like vertigo or dizziness are frequently linked to underlying auditory system pathology. Conditions such as Meniere’s disease present with a classic triad of fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus, and episodic vertigo. An audiogram is a critical diagnostic tool to identify these patterns, helping clinicians differentiate between peripheral ear disorders and central neurological causes.

Ototoxicity Monitoring during Medical Treatments

Certain life-saving medical treatments involve medications that can damage the delicate sensory hair cells of the cochlea. These ototoxic drugs include chemotherapy agents (such as cisplatin), specific antibiotics (such as gentamicin), and high-dose loop diuretics. Performing a baseline Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab before starting treatment, followed by serial monitoring, allows oncologists and physicians to adjust drug dosages before irreversible hearing loss occurs.

What Does an Audiometry / Audiogram Detect?

An Audiometry / Audiogram at Chughtai Lab is highly sensitive and can detect a wide range of physiological and pathological changes within the auditory pathway. The primary findings and conditions detected include:

• Normal hearing thresholds (0 to 20 dB HL across all tested frequencies)
• Mild sensorineural hearing loss (26 to 40 dB HL)
• Moderate sensorineural hearing loss (41 to 55 dB HL)
• Moderately-severe sensorineural hearing loss (56 to 70 dB HL)
• Severe sensorineural hearing loss (71 to 90 dB HL)
• Profound sensorineural hearing loss (greater than 90 dB HL)
• Conductive hearing loss (elevated air conduction with normal bone conduction)
• Mixed hearing loss (both air and bone conduction thresholds are elevated, with an air-bone gap)
• Bilateral symmetrical hearing loss (equal impairment in both ears)
• Unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss restricted to a single ear)
• Asymmetrical hearing loss (significant threshold differences between ears, warranting retrocochlear evaluation)
• High-frequency hearing loss (sloping audiogram configuration, typical of aging or ototoxicity)
• Low-frequency hearing loss (rising audiogram configuration, characteristic of early Meniere’s disease)
• Cookie-bite hearing loss (mid-frequency loss, often hereditary or congenital)
• Noise-induced hearing loss notch (a distinct dip in sensitivity around 4000 Hz)
• Significant air-bone gap (greater than 15 dB difference, indicating middle ear pathology)
• Otosclerosis pattern (Carhart’s notch, a specific dip in bone conduction at 2000 Hz)
• Preserved low-frequency hearing with precipitous high-frequency drop-off
• Reduced speech reception threshold (SRT) matching the pure-tone average (PTA)
• Poor word recognition score (WRS) indicating retrocochlear or severe cochlear pathology
• Excellent word recognition score despite conductive hearing loss
• Retrocochlear lesion indicators (significant asymmetry in WRS disproportionate to pure-tone thresholds)
• Fluctuating hearing loss thresholds (characteristic of endolymphatic hydrops)
• Left ear hearing deficit vs. Right ear hearing deficit
• Flat audiogram configuration (equal hearing loss across all frequencies, often seen in advanced conductive or mixed loss)

Turnaround Time and Report Access at Chughtai Lab

Chughtai Lab is renowned for its efficient diagnostic reporting and robust digital infrastructure across Pakistan. Once your Audiometry / Audiogram is completed, the raw data is analyzed by a qualified clinical audiologist and verified by a senior consultant. The final diagnostic report, which includes the pure-tone audiogram graph, speech audiometry scores, and a clinical interpretation, is typically ready within a few hours of the test completion.

Patients can access their reports seamlessly through multiple convenient channels. Chughtai Lab provides digital report access via their official website portal and the Chughtai Lab mobile application, allowing patients to view, download, and share their results with their ENT specialists instantly. Additionally, patients receive SMS alerts with direct download links as soon as the report is finalized. Physical copies of the report can also be collected from any Chughtai Lab diagnostic center or collection point nationwide.

Audiometry / Audiogram Findings Overview

Structure / Parameter Evaluated	Normal Findings	Possible Abnormal Findings
Air Conduction Thresholds (250 – 8000 Hz)	0 to 20 dB HL across all frequencies, indicating normal sound transmission through the entire auditory pathway.	Thresholds greater than 25 dB HL, indicating conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss.
Bone Conduction Thresholds (250 – 4000 Hz)	0 to 20 dB HL, indicating normal sensory function of the cochlea and auditory nerve.	Thresholds greater than 25 dB HL, indicating sensorineural or mixed hearing impairment.
Air-Bone Gap (ABG)	Less than 10 dB difference between air and bone conduction thresholds.	Gap of 15 dB or greater, indicating middle ear pathology (e.g., fluid, ossicular fixation, or tympanic membrane perforation).
Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)	Within 5 to 10 dB of the Pure-Tone Average (PTA) of speech frequencies.	Significantly elevated SRT, indicating difficulty hearing and understanding speech at normal conversational levels.
Word Recognition Score (WRS)	90% to 100% clarity, indicating excellent ability to understand speech when sufficiently amplified.	Scores below 90% (fair to poor), indicating cochlear distortion or retrocochlear pathology (e.g., acoustic neuroma).
Audiogram Configuration	Flat, stable response within the normal range (0-20 dB HL).	Sloping (high-frequency loss), rising (low-frequency loss), cookie-bite (mid-frequency loss), or notched (noise-induced loss).
Interaural Symmetry	Symmetrical thresholds between both ears (within 15 dB difference).	Asymmetrical thresholds, raising suspicion for unilateral pathology such as vestibular schwannoma.
Carhart’s Notch	Absent.	A specific dip in bone conduction threshold at 2000 Hz, highly suggestive of otosclerosis.

Note: Diagnostic findings should always be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional together with the patient’s symptoms, medical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, previous imaging studies, and other relevant clinical information. Additional investigations or specialist consultation may be recommended depending on the findings.

Why Choose Chughtai Lab for Audiometry / Audiogram?

• Experienced Healthcare Professionals: Tests are conducted by highly qualified clinical audiologists who specialize in precise auditory evaluations.
• Patient-Focused Care: Every patient receives personalized attention, clear instructions, and a comfortable testing experience.
• Quality Diagnostic Services: Chughtai Lab adheres to strict international quality control standards for all diagnostic investigations.
• Professional Reporting: Detailed, accurate, and easy-to-understand audiogram graphs and interpretations are provided promptly.
• Modern Diagnostic Approach: Utilizing advanced, regularly calibrated audiometers and soundproof booths to ensure clinical precision.
• Comfortable Environment: Modern, clean, and quiet testing facilities designed to minimize patient anxiety and external noise interference.
• Convenient Location: An extensive network of diagnostic centers across Pakistan, making services easily accessible.
• Commitment to Accurate Diagnosis: A trusted healthcare brand with over three decades of diagnostic excellence, ensuring reliable results for clinical decision-making.