Hearing tests

There are several ways you can get your hearing tested if it's getting gradually worse.

How to get an NHS hearing test

You can get a free hearing test on the NHS. Your GP may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist) who can do the test.

It could take a few weeks to see the specialist. So it will probably be quicker to get tested somewhere else, like at a large pharmacy or opticians, although you may have to pay for this.

Important

Always see a GP first if:

you also have other symptoms, like earache or discharge – this could be something easily treatable like an earwax build-up or ear infection
you have sudden hearing loss in one ear
you're worried about your child's hearing

Other ways to get a hearing test

Online hearing test

There are simple hearing tests online.

This can tell you if you need to have a face-to-face hearing test.

Pharmacies and opticians

Lots of large pharmacies and opticians can do hearing tests.

The test is often free, but you'll normally have to pay for any treatment you might need (such as hearing aids).

What happens during a hearing test

You may have a few different tests during your appointment to check if you have hearing loss and find out the cause.

Common hearing tests include:


Test	What happens
Pure tone audiometry	you listen to different sounds through headphones and press a button or raise your hand each time you hear something
Speech perception test	similar to a pure tone audiometry test but you listen to speech rather than sounds
Tympanometry	a small device is placed in your ear to check for fluid behind your eardrum

These are hearing tests for adults. Newborn hearing tests and some hearing tests for children are different.

Page last reviewed: 27 September 2017
Next review due: 27 September 2020