Best hearing test for realistic everyday sounds

Amplifon

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Hearing loss is surprisingly more common than you’d think. However, the people who are experiencing hearing loss and would benefit from treatment probably aren’t getting it. According to a report from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, less than 30% of US adults aged 70 or older with hearing loss have ever used a hearing aid. That number is even lower — 16% — for adults aged 20 to 69.

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Cost: Free
Test length: About 8 minutes
Type: Pure-tone

MDHearing’s online hearing test is a pure-tone test, which looks at how well you can hear various tones of different frequencies. You adjust the volume of each tone until it’s as low as possible while still being audible, then move on to the next one. The test’s interface was more intuitive than some other online tests that use a similar format. It requires an email sign-up, but you don’t have to take lengthy surveys (as many hearing aid brands’ online tests require), and I didn’t get any spam emails after taking the test. 

The results of this test are detailed enough to be informative, yet easy to understand and not too overwhelming. They include an audiogram along with a guide to interpreting it, and there’s a phone number to text or call for follow-up care. For an easy, quick look at your hearing health, this test does the trick. 

Pros:

Simple
Easy to use
Informative results

Cons:

Requires email sign-up

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Cost: Free
Test length: About 3 minutes
Type: Speech-in-noise

Speech-in-noise tests determine how well you can hear speech alongside background noise, which is an important ability for everyday use. Many online speech-in-noise tests just have a voice reciting numbers or words over fuzzy white background noise. But Amplifon’s test mimics real life: You’ll have to figure out what people are saying at the orchestra, at a busy cafe, on a loud city street and more. The test takes just a few minutes.

Speech-in-noise tests don’t test your hearing at different frequencies, so you won’t get those types of detailed results — but they can be helpful for seeing how hearing loss could affect your life on a day-to-day basis. Amplifon’s results tell you whether you have signs of hearing loss, how severe it is if so and what you can do next. Since Amplifon itself is a hearing care platform, there’s also a link to request an appointment.

Pros:

Realistic and intuitive interface
Quick
No email sign-up required

Cons:

Results not as detailed

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• Cost: Is the test free, or does it cost money? Most online hearing tests do not require payment, unlike going to a professional.
• Time: How long does the test take to complete? Depending on your needs, you may want a quick 3-minute evaluation or a longer and more in-depth one. 
• Follow-up steps: Will the test direct you on the next steps to take, or connect you with care based on your results? Most online hearing tests are affiliated with a retailer, brand or provider of some kind, so follow-up care is easy to find.
• Email requirement: Does the test require you to input your email? If you feel like you’re ready to shop for hearing aids or make an appointment, putting in your contact information for follow-up may actually be ideal. But if you’re still in the browsing stage, you may not want to be bothered by it.

Online hearing tests are a useful starting point to see whether you may have hearing loss. They’re convenient and easy to use. But your results could be skewed if you don’t follow every instruction, including calibrating your volume properly. Moreover, online hearing tests aren’t as comprehensive as in-office hearing tests, and they can’t diagnose the type or origin of your hearing loss. Audiologists have expertise and better tools, and they work in sound-treated rooms with professional equipment, per Healthy Hearing. That’s why, even if your online test doesn’t detect any issues, if you’re experiencing any issues with your hearing or ears, it’s worth going in for an in-person exam.

Online tests typically consist of just one or two of the following test types:

• Pure-tone, which involves listening to tones of different frequencies 
• Speech-in-noise or background noise, which entails listening for a specific sound over background noise 
• Speech audiometry, which tests for how well you can hear spoken audio at different volumes

An in-office hearing exam can include all of the above test types and more. These include (but aren’t limited to):

• Bone conduction testing, which tests specific parts of the ear for issues such as fluid blockage
• Tympanometry, which tests how well your eardrum moves
• Otoacoustic emissions test, which looks at your inner ear function
• Physical examination of the ear’s structures

While online hearing tests are usually free, in-office hearing exams may come at a cost. But if you have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, annual hearing tests are likely covered. Otherwise, the cost will vary by the practitioner or location.

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