Pure Tone Average, or PTA, is a single-number representation of hearing sensitivity, derived by averaging the hearing thresholds at specific frequencies. For example, the average of hearing thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz would yield the PTA. This calculation provides a general overview of an individual’s hearing ability in the speech frequency range.
Determining this average is valuable for several reasons. It provides a quick and easily understood summary of hearing status, allowing for efficient communication between audiologists and patients or other medical professionals. Historically, it has served as a baseline for assessing the impact of hearing loss on daily communication and for predicting the benefit gained from hearing aids. It allows for quick comparison against speech recognition scores to identify inconsistencies that need to be explored further.