What does pure tone threshold help to identify?

Pure tone threshold is a critical measurement in audiology that helps identify the severity of hearing loss. It is determined through pure tone audiometry, where specific frequencies of sounds are presented to the patient to determine the lowest intensity level at which they can hear those tones. This threshold can indicate how mild, moderate, severe, or profound a person's hearing loss is by analyzing the decibel (dB) level at which the patient can detect sound across various frequencies.

When audiologists assess the pure tone thresholds, they can create an audiogram that visually represents the degree of hearing loss for each ear, guiding them in determining how significantly the hearing loss impacts communication abilities. This measurable data is essential for developing treatment plans, such as the recommendation of hearing aids or other interventions, but it specifically pertains to understanding the overall severity of the individual's hearing impairment.

In contrast, while the type of hearing aid needed, age-related hearing loss, and the effectiveness of previous treatments may be influenced by the pure tone thresholds, they are not directly identified by this measurement. The pure tone threshold itself is solely focused on the quantification of hearing sensitivity and does not provide detailed information on the specific type of hearing aid, the broader implications of age-related changes, or the outcomes of past treatments