Hearing test

Who needs a hearing test?

Around 80% of pre-school children will suffer from glue ear. If the condition is not detected and treated, it can have an adverse effect on a child’s educational and social development, in some cases children can get left behind during the vital stages of their speech and language development, with significant longer-term effects.

More than 50% of people over 60 years old have a hearing impairment. Hearing impairment is the second most common cause of disability in older people. Although the onset can be gradual, deteriorating hearing can have an adverse impact, causing social isolation leading to feelings of detachment and frustration.

It's not just the young and the elderly who can benefit from a complete hearing assessment. Around 20% of all young people are regularly exposed to dangerously loud music, risking their hearing at noisy clubs and bars and by listening to personal stereos at extreme noise levels, and around 1.3 million people are exposed to potentially damaging noise in the workplace.

You can refer yourself or your child for this service, a referral from a GP or healthcare professional is not required.

What happens at a hearing test?

Audiometry tests for the quietest sounds you can hear. You will be presented with high and low pitched tones through headphones and asked to respond to the stimuli such as pressing a button when you hear a sound. Young children will be asked to respond by playing games such as throwing a brick into a box when they hear a sound instead. By decreasing the levels the tester can determine the quietest sounds you can hear.

How long will the hearing test last?

The whole process takes up to 20 minutes.

When do I get my results?

The Audiologist will explain their findings at the end of the test and will give you a copy of their report for you to pass onto your GP. Your GP will advise you if any further action is necessary, such as referral to a specialist.