Hearing Test Appointments: What Happens and How to Prepare

Where to start

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) suggests several starting points if you think you have a hearing problem: your primary care doctor, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), an audiologist or a hearing aid specialist. Audiologists have specialized training in identifying and measuring the type and degree of hearing loss.

If you have insurance, check whether you need a referral for the evaluation to be covered.

Before the appointment

• Write down what you notice: situations where hearing is hard (phone calls, restaurants, TV), whether one ear is worse, ringing in the ears, dizziness.
• List any medicines and past ear problems, infections, surgery or noise exposure.
• Consider bringing a family member — they may notice things you don’t, and can help remember advice.
• Bring ID, insurance card and any previous hearing test results.

What a typical test involves

Procedures vary, but a common hearing evaluation includes:

1. A look in your ears to check for wax or other blockages.
2. Tone testing: you sit in a quiet booth wearing headphones, and tones at different pitches and volumes are played to each ear. You signal when you hear one — usually by pressing a button or raising a hand.
3. Speech testing: repeating words you hear, sometimes with background noise.
4. Sometimes a tympanogram, which uses a small probe in the ear canal to check how the eardrum moves.

Results are shown on an audiogram. Ask the audiologist to walk you through it.

Questions to ask about hearing aids

If hearing aids are recommended, NIDCD suggests choosing one with your audiologist that suits your needs and lifestyle, and asking before you buy about adjustments, servicing and repairs, loaner devices during repairs, instruction on use, and the trial period and warranty.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

The FDA says OTC hearing aids are intended for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and can be bought in stores or online without a prescription or exam. People under 18, and people with more than mild to moderate loss, need prescription hearing aids through a licensed hearing professional. The FDA also notes you can get a hearing test from a professional, request your records and buy a device elsewhere.