Hörselnivån

Hörselnivån, commonly referred to as hearing threshold, describes the quietest sound a person can detect at a specific frequency, measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL). The standard for normal hearing is typically defined as thresholds of 0–20 dB HL across frequencies ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz. Thresholds above 25 dB HL are generally considered indicative of hearing impairment, with severity categorized as mild (26–40 dB HL), moderate (41–55 dB HL), severe (56–70 dB HL), and profound (71+ dB HL).

Measurement of hörselnivån is performed through audiometric testing, whereby pure-tones are presented via headphones or earphones while the patient signals detection. The resulting audiogram plots hearing thresholds against frequency, providing a visual representation of a listener’s functional hearing range. Electroacoustic methods such as auditory brainstem response (ABR) or otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) can supplement behavioral audiometry, particularly in infants or individuals unable to cooperate with standard testing.

Factors that influence hörselnivån include age-related presbycusis, noise-induced damage, middle-ear pathology, ototoxic medications, genetic conditions, and viral infections. Early identification of threshold elevations allows for timely intervention with hearing aids, cochlear implants, or auditory training, mitigating the impact of hearing loss on communication and psychosocial wellbeing.