Do Online Hearing Tests Work
When it comes to being able to test your hearing from home, There are several ways to check your own hearing from the comfort of your own home. Such tests should only be used as a screening meausre and not a replacement for a hearing test performed by an audiologist or hearing specialist.
You will find that most online hearing tests are provided free of charge to give you an idea of your hearing levels.
Where to Find an Online Hearing Test
One of the best places to find an online hearing test is through a hearing aid manuafacturer website.
Hearing aid manufacturer's such as Resound or Phonak.
Whilst these screening tests are useful, they should not be taken as a diagnostic test of your hearing and if in any doubt you should discuss the results with your GP or local audiologist.
Online screening hearing tests are available from the majority of hearing aid manufacturers and major suppliers or dispensers.
They can be found by typing ‘Online hearing test’ into search screens.
Other Screening Hearing Test Options
Alternatively a telephone screening test is available via Action on Hearing loss. However please note it does not matter which way a screening test is performed it is only a screen, and needs to be considered as such.
What a Phonak Online Hearing Test is like
What a Resound Online Hearing Test is like
How the Free Online Hearing Test Works
Before starting the online hearing test we need a few details about your gender and age and to make sure your sound settings are adjusted correctly.
- Find a quiet area to complete the hearing test.
- Choose if you prefer to use your device speakers or headphones. Headphones will provide you with more accurate results, and unlike device speakers, will test your right and left ears individually.
- Make sure the volume is on and set at a comfortable level.
This online hearing test will help you identify difficulties with understanding speech in noise.
- You will hear different combinations of words first and then numbers, always in groups of three, while background noise varies.
- Select the three things you hear by selecting the corresponding icon or number shown to the left.
- If you get distracted and miss one of the words, you can press the replay button to have the last combination repeated.
- If you are using headphones, a hearing test will be done for both right and left ears.
- Finally, if you are using hearing aids, we recommend that you remove them while taking the test.
The ReSound online hearing test does not replace a visit to a hearing care professional and it does not constitute a medical diagnosis. If you think that you are experiencing hearing loss, we advise you to consult a professional hearing care specialist who can conduct a more comprehensive examination.
Sometimes we don't notice hearing loss until it starts to impact our lifestyle. Struggling to hear work colleagues, friends or family, or missing out on a sound, can mean missing out on the full story.
While there's no replacement for a consultation with a hearing-care professional, the Phonak online hearing test can provide quick and useful feedback about your hearing.
How to get the most out of this test
- Make sure you are in a quiet area before you start the hearing test
- Use Headphones instead of built-in speakers and set your device volume to 50%
How the online hearing test works
- The first part of the test determines how well you can hear at different frequency levels. You will hear a number of tones at different pitches and are asked to adjust the volume until you can hear the sound
- In the second part of the test, we will ask you a number of questions about your ability to hear in challenging listening situations
- After that, you will be presented with your hearing test result and guidance on what to do next if we encounter signs of hearing loss
What to expect at your first ap
Take a quick, easy test to find out how you're hearing.
Checking your hearing quality is an important prevention step for your health and wellness. Test your hearing in 6 different conversation scenarios.