What does an elevated hearing threshold indicate?

An elevated hearing threshold signifies that an individual has a reduced sensitivity to sound, which means that louder sounds become necessary for the person to detect them compared to what is considered typical. This elevation in thresholds is indicative of hearing loss, suggesting that the thresholds are worse than previously tested.

In the context of audiological assessments, hearing thresholds are measured in decibels (dB), and an increase in these measurements means that a person requires greater sound intensity to perceive a sound compared to their earlier measurements. Thus, the elevated hearing threshold effectively reflects a decline in auditory sensitivity, which aligns perfectly with the understanding of hearing impairments.