TEL-T04 · Audiogram tool
Pure tone average calculator
Enter the thresholds printed on your audiogram. Calculate each ear separately with the standard speech-frequency formula or the WHO 4-frequency method.
Important
This calculator does not play tones or test hearing. It only summarizes an existing calibrated audiogram.
How it works
Two valid averages answer different questions.
Standard 3-frequency PTA
The American National Standards definition is the arithmetic average of hearing levels at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. It summarizes the speech-frequency region for each ear.
(500 + 1000 + 2000) / 3WHO 4-frequency grade
WHO grades population hearing loss from the average at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz in the better ear. It is not the same as a legal disability percentage.
(500 + 1000 + 2000 + 4000) / 4How to copy values from an audiogram
Use the air-conduction threshold for each ear at the listed frequency. Audiograms normally mark the right ear with red circles and the left ear with blue crosses, but symbol sets can vary. Do not average both ears together. Each ear gets its own PTA.
If a frequency is marked as no response, do not guess a threshold. Ask the clinician who produced the audiogram how that value should be handled.
What the number does not tell you
A PTA is a summary, not a diagnosis. A 3-frequency average can look normal while 4000 Hz and higher thresholds show meaningful loss. PTA also does not describe word recognition, speech-in-noise performance, conductive versus sensorineural loss, or the effect of asymmetry between ears.
Read the result with the complete audiogram and any speech test. Our audiogram guide explains the symbols and threshold chart, while the pure-tone average guide covers the limits of this calculation.
WHO 4-frequency grade ranges
- Below 20 dB HL: normal hearing range in the WHO grading system
- 20 to under 35 dB HL: mild hearing loss
- 35 to under 50 dB HL: moderate hearing loss
- 50 to under 65 dB HL: moderately severe hearing loss
- 65 to under 80 dB HL: severe hearing loss
- 80 to under 95 dB HL: profound hearing loss
- 95 dB HL or greater: complete or total hearing loss
These grades apply to the better-ear 4-frequency average. Clinical decisions still depend on the full test and the person, not only the grade.
Primary sources
Questions readers ask
Pure-tone average questions
- Which frequencies are used for a pure-tone average?
- The standard speech-frequency PTA averages 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. WHO population grading uses the better-ear average at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz.
- Does this calculator diagnose hearing loss?
- No. It only averages thresholds copied from an existing calibrated audiogram. It cannot test hearing, assess speech understanding, or replace an audiologist.
- Why can a normal PTA still miss hearing difficulty?
- A 3-frequency PTA can miss high-frequency loss and does not measure speech-in-noise performance or word recognition. The full audiogram and speech testing provide essential context.
Educational use only.
Discuss audiogram results with a licensed audiologist or physician. Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency and needs prompt clinical care.