Guides · Hearing tests · 5 min read
Eight signs it is time for a hearing test
Hearing loss arrives slowly, so the people around you often notice first. These are the signs we hear about most in the clinic.
By the Hearwick audiologists ·
Hearing loss rarely arrives overnight. It creeps in over years, usually starting with the high pitches that carry the consonants in speech: s, f, th, t. The brain fills the gaps so well that most people wait around ten years between first noticing a problem and having a test. These are the signs we hear about most often.
People seem to mumble
If everyone seems to have started mumbling at once, the change is probably in your ears. High-pitched consonants are the first to go, so speech sounds loud enough but not clear.
Restaurants have become hard work
Background noise is the hardest test for any ear. If you now choose restaurants for how quiet they are, or leave gatherings early because you are tired of straining, that is worth a check.
The television volume causes arguments
A partner reaching for the remote to turn it down is one of the most common reasons people book with us.
You ask people to repeat themselves
Everyone mishears sometimes. Asking “sorry?” several times in one conversation, or nodding along without following, is different.
The phone is harder than face to face
On the phone you lose lip-reading and the sound is squeezed into a narrow band. Many people notice hearing loss there first.
You hear ringing or hissing
Tinnitus often comes with some hearing loss. It is worth a test even if the noise is quiet.
Birdsong and the kettle have gone quiet
High, soft sounds fade first. If you are surprised by a kettle clicking off or a bird you had not noticed, your high-pitch hearing may have dropped.
You are more tired after social events
Listening with reduced hearing takes effort. Many patients say the biggest change after being fitted was having energy left at the end of the day.
If any of these sound familiar, the online hearing check takes about eight minutes and will give you a rough idea. A full hearing test is free and takes an hour.
Quick answers
- At what age should I have my hearing tested?
- We suggest a baseline test at 50, then every two to three years, or sooner if you notice any of the signs in this guide.
- Is a hearing test uncomfortable?
- No. You sit in a quiet room with headphones on and press a button when you hear a tone. Nothing goes deep into your ear.
Not sure where you stand?
The online check takes about eight minutes with headphones. The full test in clinic is free and takes an hour.
