What is a Hearing Test?

A hearing test is a way of measuring your hearing to find out how you hear compared to a recognised benchmark. This benchmark represents ‘normal hearing’, which is established to mean that you are able to hear all components of speech, including all the consonants and vowels.

Do I need my Hearing Checked?

Hearing is one of our most important senses. Just as we have our eyesight tested by the opticians on a regular basis, and our teeth checked by a dentist, so too should we have our hearing tested by a hearing care professional. Changes in our own hearing are often harder to detect than changes in our own eyesight, so it is perhaps even more important to have our hearing checked regularly by a professional to ensure our hearing is being properly cared for.

We would especially recommend a hearing test if you have noticed a change in your hearing (or someone else has mentioned it). See “How to Detect A Hearing Loss” for clues.

What will happen during my hearing test?

The hearing test takes around 45 minutes, although we usually allow about an hour for your appointment because it gives us time to explain the results and answer any questions you may have about your hearing.

During the hearing test we will give you some sounds to listen to through headphones, and you simply press a button when you hear one of the sounds. The aim is for us to make the sounds as quiet as possible before you stop hearing them. This tells us the quietest sounds you are capable of hearing for different pitches of sound.

We then look to see if any parts of speech fall outside of your range of hearing. If it does, we will recommend the best treatment for your hearing. This may be a referral to your GP/medical specialist, or we may advise the trial of hearing aids.

How often should I have my hearing checked?

As a basic guide we recommend the following:

18 to 45 years of age:	Every five years
45 to 60 years of age:	Every three years
60 years plus:	Every two years

Your hearing care professional may advise you differently depending on your hearing. For example, if the audiogram shows something that needs monitoring, we may like to see you more regularly to ensure you are receiving the best attention for your hearing.

How much will the hearing test cost?

Hearing tests cost £25.

Why do you charge for hearing tests?

Firstly, independent hearing care providers are currently not subsidised by the Government. So the fee partially goes towards covering the cost of the equipment, the expertise and time involved in carrying out a professional hearing assessment.The cost is therefore in line with other healthcare professions such as Opticians and Dentists.

Secondly, we don't believe that something as important as a hearing test should be used as "a sprat to catch a mackerel" in the hope that someone needs a hearing aid. We see this is an unethical approach (although the practice appears to be widespread) because it is using the hearing test as a sales tool, rather than an important health check.

Thirdly, because "each hearing test pays its own way", it enables us to offer routine hearing tests for people throughout life – which is something we very much believe in.

Where can I have my hearing test?

You can either have your hearing test in the comfort of our air-conditioned, sound-controlled rooms in our Exeter Hearing Centre, Devon, or in any of our partner centres throughout Devon (including Sidmouth, Newton Abbot, Torquay or Okehampton). If you are unable to attend one of our centres, and you live within Devon & Cornwall we may be able to carry out the hearing test as part of a home visit. (Please contact us to enquire.)

Can I bring someone with me?

Yes, please do:

• They can provide moral support.
• They can help ask the right questions (and help remember the answers!)
• What you do with your hearing often affects them as much as it does you
• That’s why we’ve made our consulting rooms large enough for you and a friend or family member. People are more relaxed when they bring someone with them.
• They can have their hearing tested at the same time (which also brings down the cost of the hearing assessment per person).

What about children?

Children (under 18s) are normally referred directly to their GP as the NHS has specialists trained in paediatric healthcare.