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There are several ways you can get your hearing tested.
You can get a free hearing test on the NHS. A GP may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist) who can do the test.
It could take a few weeks to see a specialist so it might be quicker to get tested somewhere else, like at a large pharmacy or opticians. This is often free.
Always see a GP first if:
There are simple hearing tests online.
This can tell you if you need to have a face-to-face hearing test.
Check your hearing with the RNID's free online hearing test
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).
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.
Can you answer some questions about your experiences with hearing tests to help us improve our information?
