There are several ways you can get your hearing tested.

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, this is often free.

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

You can do  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
Pure tone audiometry
What happens
you listen to different sounds through headphones and press a button or raise your hand each time you hear something

Test
Speech perception test
What happens
similar to a pure tone audiometry test but you listen to speech rather than sounds

Test
Tympanometry
What happens
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.