Unlocking the Sounds of Speech with the Familiar Sounds Audiogram and eBook

When a child is first identified with hearing loss, parents often step into a brand-new world filled with unfamiliar terms, tools, and tests. One of the first tools families encounter is the audiogram.

Filled with numbers, lines, and shapes, the audiogram provides information about hearing loss and can help answer questions like “What can my child hear?” and “What does their hearing loss mean?”

The Audiogram Explained

An audiogram is a graph that charts the softest sounds, called thresholds, that your child can hear at different frequencies (similar to pitches). The thresholds on the audiogram help the pediatric audiologist determine the type and severity of your baby’s hearing loss.

But it can be hard to understand what those lines and numbers truly mean for everyday life and to make decisions for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. The Familiar Sounds Audiogram and eBook can be helpful tools to give families and professionals a clear, research-based way to understand what a child hears—and what that means for their listening, learning, and spoken language development.

What is a Familiar Sounds Audiogram?

A Familiar Sounds Audiogram (sometimes called a “Common Sounds Audiogram”) is a visual tool that shows where everyday speech sounds fall on the audiogram. Instead of just numbers and symbols, it connects the results of a hearing test to real-life listening, helping families understand what their child may or may not be able to hear.

For years, versions of Familiar Sounds Audiograms varied widely, often leaving families confused about what to use. A recent study found inconsistencies across dozens of audiograms, from the placement of speech sounds to the shape and placement of the speech region. Hearing First partnered with leading researchers and pediatric audiologists to create a standardized, evidence-based tool that families and professionals could trust.

Understanding Your Child’s Hearing: Familiar Sounds Audiogram

The Familiar Sounds Audiogram eBook is a comprehensive guide for families to understand what a child with hearing loss can or can’t hear by translating complex audiology concepts into easy-to-follow explanations. Parents can be empowered with knowledge to understand the audiogram results, and professionals have a standardized, evidence-based resource. It’s a tool to foster stronger conversations between families and professionals about hearing technology and goals for a child’s listening and spoken language future.

The updated Familiar Sounds Audiogram charts both the speech region (all the sounds needed for conversation) and the prosody region (the melody and rhythm of speech). This helps parents and professionals see at a glance what sounds may or may not be reaching a child’s brain—and sparks meaningful conversations about goals for hearing technology and language outcomes.

What the eBook Offers

The free eBook is packed with practical guidance for both families and professionals. Inside, you’ll find:

• A step-by-step explanation of what an audiogram is and how to read it.
• Insights into the impact of different degrees of hearing loss.
• An overview of critical speech sounds—like m, oo, ah, ee, sh, s—that are key to clarity and meaning.
• Tools like the Ling 6 Sound Test that parents can use at home to check access to essential speech sounds.
• Encouragement and information on how to make the most of hearing devices, music, and daily routines.

By bridging science with everyday life, the eBook helps parents feel confident as their child’s first and most important teacher—and gives professionals a trusted resource to support family conversations.

Ready to Learn More?

Download the Familiar Sounds Audiogram worksheet and eBook in Spanish. Spanish-speaking families can access these trusted resources in their preferred language, helping them build knowledge and confidence as they support their child with hearing loss to listen and talk.

There’s an interactive lesson designed to help parents feel empowered with knowledge about their child’s audiogram and what it means. Inside Lesson 8 of First LSL Lessons, you’ll find:

• Tips for reading a child’s audiogram and understanding what they can hear
• Videos that break down audiograms into easy-to-understand terms
• Helpful guidance (and worksheets!) for families to tell their baby's hearing story and be their best advocate

Learn from the presentation of a new evidence-based Familiar Sounds Audiogram on your own time in the self-study course A New Familiar Sounds Audiogram: Recent Research & Recommendations for Use. Explore the need for a standardized audiogram of common or familiar sounds and walk away with best practices to use with the updated Familiar Sounds Audiogram to counsel and empower families to better understand their child’s hearing loss.