Best Online Hearing Tests of 2024
Online hearing tests are a useful starting point to find out if you have hearing loss. They are convenient and easy to use. If you don’t follow every instruction, including correctly calibrating the volume, your results may be skewed. Additionally, online hearing tests are not as comprehensive as in-office hearing tests and cannot diagnose the type or source of your hearing loss. Audiologists have specialized knowledge and better tools, working in sound treatment rooms equipped with specialized equipment, healthy hearing. Even if your online test doesn’t reveal any issues, it’s worth attending an in-person exam if you’re experiencing any problems with your hearing or ears.
Online tests typically include only one or two of the following test types:
- Pure tone, which involves listening to tones of different frequencies
- Speech in noise or background noise, the need to hear a specific sound in the background noise
- Speech audiometry, which tests your ability to hear speech at different volumes
An in-office hearing exam can include all of the above test types and more. These include (but are not limited to):
- Bone conduction testing to test for problems such as fluid blockage in specific parts of the ear
- Tympanometry test to test the movement of your eardrum
- Otoacoustic emission testwhich looks at how your inner ear functions
- Physical examination of ear structure
Online hearing tests are usually free, but in-office hearing exams may come with a fee. If you have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, annual hearing tests may be covered. Otherwise, fees will vary depending on the practitioner or location.
Are online hearing tests accurate?
Which online hearing test is the most accurate?
Who should not take an online hearing test?
