Pure-Tone Average
Also written as: PTA — Pure-Tone Average
The arithmetic mean of hearing thresholds at a specified set of frequencies (typically 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz), used as a summary index of hearing sensitivity.
Full Definition
The pure-tone average (PTA) is a single numeric value derived from audiometric thresholds that provides a clinically useful summary of a person's overall hearing sensitivity for speech-frequency sounds. The conventional three-frequency PTA uses 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, though a four-frequency version adding 4000 Hz is also common in research contexts. Editors must verify which frequencies are specified when an author cites a PTA value, as undisclosed variation in the frequency set can render cross-study comparisons invalid. PTA is expressed in decibels hearing level (dB HL) and maps onto descriptive categories such as mild, moderate, severe, and profound. It should not be confused with the speech recognition threshold (SRT), which is a related but distinct measure.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as 'pure-tone average.' Specify the frequency set (three- or four-frequency) when editing research documents to ensure methodological clarity.
In Context
- "The participant's pure-tone average of 45 dB HL placed them in the moderate hearing loss category." — Audiological assessment report
- "Authors should specify which frequencies were included in the pure-tone average calculation, as practice varies across studies." — Journal author guidelines