Take a free online hearing test

Your hearing will gradually fade over time, and you may find that you struggle to hear the TV, radio, or phone, as well as conversations, especially if you’re in a noisy environment.

While this isn’t usually something to be concerned about, it’s important that you have regular hearing tests, especially as you get older. To assess the extent of the loss and whether you need hearing aids. This is particularly the case if you work in a place with high noise levels, or with industrial machinery.

It also gives you the chance to ask any questions you have about your hearing, and have your hearing aids checked (if you already use them) to make sure they’re still suitable for you and your level of hearing loss. It also allows your audiologist to identify any issues and diagnose any conditions that may be affecting your hearing.

If you’ve noticed a sudden change in your hearing or developed a condition such as tinnitus, you should get your hearing checked as soon as you can.

Yes, providing you undertake your online hearing test in a calm, quiet room (and ideally wear headphones during the test), you will get an accurate overview of how well you’re hearing.

If your results show a change or deterioration in your hearing, or if you’d like to speak to a trained audiologist to further understand what’s going on, make sure you book a face-to-face appointment with our team.

It’s also important to remember that online hearing tests won’t be able to give you a medical diagnosis of any hearing conditions or investigate any issues behind any hearing loss you may be experiencing, so if you’re concerned at all, it’s important to speak to your doctor.

You can use our online hearing test. It’s a quick and simple way of checking your hearing without the need to leave your house.

All you need is an internet connection, a quiet, calm room, and a few minutes to complete the test. We recommend you use wired headphones as they’re better for testing your ears individually but wireless heads or earphones are fine.

Our online hearing test will give you a good idea of how well you’re hearing, but whatever your results, if you have any concerns or questions, you can book a face-to-face appointment with our audiologists.

And if you’re worried about your hearing, always make sure you speak to your doctor.

Hearing loss is often a gradual process, so it can be hard to recognise when it starts. Other people may notice that you’re losing your hearing before you do.

But there are some signs you can look out for, including:

• Difficulty hearing people, or misunderstanding them, especially in noisy or busy environments

• Turning the volume up on your TV or radio

• Difficulty hearing people when on the phone

• Finding that everyday sounds are muffled

• Frequently asking people to speak more slowly, or to repeat what they’re saying

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, take our online hearing test or book a free hearing test in one of our Boots Hearingcare branches.

If the change in or loss of hearing has come on suddenly, you should speak to your doctor as soon as you can. They’ll be able to carry out a full examination of your ears to make sure you’re not suffering from any ear infections or conditions that could be contributing to the change in your hearing.

If your hearing loss or change is something you or your friends and family have noticed coming on gradually, you can take our online hearing test as the first port of call. This can help you determine how well you’re hearing right now.

Alternatively, you can book an appointment with our team of Audiologists. They’ll carry out a free in-person hearing test or full hearing assessment to understand the extent of your hearing loss, and decide the best way for you to manage it.