Take a Free Online Hearing Test Today
Although we’d highly recommend an in-person hearing test, if you don’t have the time to come in and see one of our audiologists, you can also take advantage of our free online hearing test. It is comprehensive enough to give you a rough idea of how well you can hear.
The test is only 3 minutes long and all you’ll need for it is a pair of headphones or earphones. Please note that before the test begins, you’ll be asked a couple of questions, such as your current age and how you’d describe your hearing. Please answer each question to the best of your ability so you can get the most accurate results.
What Are Hearing Tests?
Hearing tests are a series of non-invasive procedures carried out by trained audiologists in a controlled environment (usually a soundproof booth). Their primary purpose is to assess how well you hear different sounds, pitches, and speech.
Based on the results that come back from your hearing test, your audiologist will be able to determine whether you have hearing loss, and if you do – the type of hearing loss you have and how severe it is. This will then help them create a tailored plan to bring your hearing back to normal and improve your quality of life.
Explore Our Hearing Test Services
At our hearing clinic, we have the tools and expertise to carry out a variety of hearing tests to accurately assess your hearing and identify any issues that may be affecting it. Some of the hearing tests that we offer include:
Audiometric Hearing Test
The audiometric hearing test is the most common type of hearing assessment. It is used to determine the quietest sounds you can hear at different pitches and volumes. During this test, you will wear headphones and you’ll be asked by your audiologist to press a button or raise your hand when you hear a sound.
Based on your input, an audiogram will be created, which will show you and your audiologist the type and degree of hearing loss you may have.
Tympanometry
The tympanometry test is designed to check the function of your eardrum and middle ear. For this test, a small probe will be inserted into your ear canal, which will gently change the air pressure inside while measuring the movement of your eardrum.
The primary goal of this test is to detect fluid in the middle ear, check for any signs of eardrum perforation, and identify other issues that could affect your ability to hear clearly.
Acoustic Reflex
The acoustic reflex is a simple hearing test that measures how the tiny muscles in your middle ear respond to loud sounds. Since the reflex helps protect your ears from very loud noises, testing it can provide valuable insights into the health of your auditory pathway, including the middle ear, inner ear, and the hearing nerve.
Speech Audiometry
A speech audiometry test evaluates how well you can hear and understand speech at different volume levels. During the test, your audiologist will ask you to repeat words or sentences, both when it’s quiet and when there is background noise.
The results of this test will help your audiologist draw a clear picture of how well you can process speech in real-world situations.
Why Choose Us for Your Hearing Test?
At VIP Hearing Solutions, we actively care for over 20,000 patients across our clinics in London. This is only possible thanks to the unwavering dedication of our team, which strives to provide each and every patient with the highest-quality hearing care in the country.
Other reasons why you should choose our award-winning clinic for your hearing test include:
- We are independent and don’t affiliate with any manufacturers or third-party companies
- We have hundreds of positive reviews on Google, Doctify, and Trustpilot
- We work with most private healthcare providers in the United Kingdom
So, if you want to have your hearing tested by a team of experienced professionals who have your best interest in mind, get in touch so we can get you booked in for a time and day that suits you.
Meet Our Professional Audiologists
At VIP Hearing Solutions, we are proud to work with some of the best and brightest audiologists in the country. Each healthcare professional that cares for the hearing needs of our patients comes from a strong clinical background working in the NHS and is recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Some of the other accreditations that Mr Nick Clive, Mo Khan, and all other members part of our audiology team hold include the British Academy of Audiologists (BAA) and the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA).
What to Expect During Your Hearing Assessment
Our in-person hearing assessments may vary slightly from one patient to another. This is because we take a highly personalised approach to hearing care and tailor every assessment to the unique needs of each patient who walks through our doors. With that being said, here is a rough overview of what you can expect during your hearing test:
- At the time of your appointment, you’ll be called into the audiologists office
- Your assessment will begin with a brief chat so the audiologist can get a better understanding of your hearing issues
- Following the initial conversation, your hearing assessment will begin
- Once the hearing test is complete, the audiologist will discuss your results with you
If your hearing test results indicate that your hearing is affected, your audiologist may recommend a more comprehensive hearing assessment to confirm the cause and extent of the problem.
Once they have all the information they need, they will provide you with an accurate diagnosis and a comprehensive plan of action to address the problem.
Interpreting Your Hearing Test Results
Your hearing test results and what they indicate will vary depending on the assessment that you’re having. To give you an example, we will look at sample test results for our standard hearing assessment (the audiometric hearing test).
Since this hearing test is used to determine the severity of your hearing loss, your results will be presented in the form of an audiogram. When looking at an audiogram, you will see a horizontal and vertical axis. Here is what each axis represents:
- The horizontal axis represents sound frequency (pitch), from low-pitched sounds like a drum (on the left) to high-pitched sounds like a whistle (on the right).
- The vertical axis represents loudness, measured in decibels (dB), with quiet sounds at the top and loud sounds at the bottom.
If all the plotted points are near the top of the chart, your hearing is within the normal range. If the points dip lower, this indicates some level of hearing loss.
The good news is that when you have your hearing tested at our clinic, you don’t need to worry about what your results mean. Your audiologist will sit with you and they’ll carefully walk you through them, what they indicate, and what the correct next steps are for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of a hearing test can vary between clinics. The final price may also depend on whether you need a standard hearing test or a more comprehensive assessment to investigate the cause of your hearing loss.
To find out the cost of a hearing test at our clinic, please contact us today and once we’ve had a chat and find out more about your particular case, we can give you a clear and accurate price.
If you feel that your ability to hear isn’t as sharp as it used to be, that’s often the first sign that you need to have your hearing tested. Some symptoms that you may have, which would warrant a visit to our hearing clinic include:
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Trouble hearing certain sounds
- Difficulty following conversations
- Feeling unusually tired after listening
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- You find yourself turning up the volume of the TV
- Your family or friends are noticing changes in your hearing
If you recognise any of these signs, book a hearing test with us and let us find out what’s happening with your hearing and the steps we need to take to protect or improve your hearing.
At VIP Hearing Solutions, we don’t just carry out the hearing assessment and send you on your way. We take the time to understand your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history – all of which are crucial for getting an accurate picture of your hearing health and recommending the right solution.
Since your hearing health is our top priority, we give our audiologists all the time they need to understand your specific case before conducting the actual hearing assessment. As a result, a standard hearing test at our clinic usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes.
No, our hearing tests are not painful or uncomfortable for our patients. They are painless, safe, and suitable for people of all ages.
If you have any questions, concerns, or know that you’re sensitive to certain sounds, please let your audiologist know so they can make your hearing test as comfortable for you as possible.
If your hearing test results indicate that you have hearing loss, the next logical step is to figure out the reason why your hearing is affected and what can be done to manage or improve it.
In some cases, additional hearing tests such as Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflex, and Speech Audiometry may be required to gain a clearer picture of your hearing health and pinpoint the exact cause of the loss. We can carry all of those tests at our clinic.
If we believe that your hearing loss needs further investigation that is outside our scope of practice, we will refer you to a reputable ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.