An audiogram is a graph recording hearing test results that indicate whether hearing is within normal limits or not. The tests can also indicate whether a person has middle or inner ear dysfunction or a mixture. The test will involve wearing a pair of headphones. Tonal sounds will be put into one or other ear by the audiologist using a machine called an audiometer. The person will indicate whether they have heard the sound by pressing a button or raising their hand. The audiologist will then measure the very quietest sound that can be heard and record that level both at different volumes and at different pitches. The hearing test is called "pure tone audiometry". The procedure is not usually painful at all.

The audiologist may also test for bone conduction which involves putting a headpiece on that will make contact with the bone behind your ear. This will record what you hear directly through your skull, bypassing your middle ear. The sound may be more of a vibration-type sound. The record of what you hear will be done in a similar way using different symbols on the graph for left and right ear.

A hearing test may be performed in a normal room but more commonly a soundproof cubicle or room. The latter two are the ideal environments.

Sometimes a rushing sound may be introduced into one ear in addition to hearing tones in the other ear. This is called "masking".

One other common test is for uncomfortable loudness levels. This involves listening to different tones at increasing volume until the sound becomes uncomfortable. The uncomfortable level is recorded on the audiogram. This test can be used to set hearing aids to the most comfortable level to suit the individual. The audiogram displays all or some of the above tests as a graph.

All information recorded in the audiogram will be useful for diagnosis, hearing aid prescription and fitting and for intervention by an audiologist, ENT consultant, Tinnitus Counsellor and Hearing Therapist as well as in education in the case of children.