Your hearing health

Should I get my hearing tested?

Last update on May, 13, 2025

Throughout various life stages, it’s a good idea to have different kinds of tests and routine checkups performed to make sure your body’s systems are running optimally. Just like vision screenings and cholesterol tests, hearing evaluations should be a regular part of your health routine, especially as you age.

How do you know when it's time for a hearing test?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associaton (ASHA), you should get a baseline hearing test around age 21. That way, when you're older, your hearing care professional can understand how much it has changed. If you are not experiencing signs of hearing loss, you should test your hearing:

At least once every 10 years until age 50
Every 3 years after age 50
More often if you're regularly exposed to loud noise, have health conditions that affect hearing, or are noticing signs of hearing loss

Even if you're not experiencing obvious problems, hearing loss can creep in gradually and go untreated for years. Early detection is critical to prevent issues from worsening.

Should you get your hearing tested? Take our quick quiz

The following quiz questions are adapted from the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), a 25-part questionnaire used to assess how hearing loss may be impacting you. Keep track of your answers on a piece of paper to understand where you may be struggling to hear.

Do you struggle to hear the TV, or do others complain about the volume at which you watch it?
Do you have difficulties hearing or understanding what others are saying to you?
Do you have difficulty hearing or following conversations in noisy environments, like restaurants?
Do you experience a ringing, humming, buzzing or whooshing sensation in your ears, not caused by an external source?
Has difficulty hearing caused you to limit your socializing with friends or family?
Do you talk on the phone less due to struggles with hearing?
Do you miss or struggle to hear sounds like alarm clocks, doorbells or knocking?
Do you often have to ask others to repeat what they said?

If you answered "yes" to two or more questions, you may be experiencing early symptoms of hearing loss.

What to expect at your free Miracle-Ear hearing test

An in-person hearing test does more than confirm what an online screening may suggest. It helps you:

Understand your results
Monitor your hearing health over time
Know when something changes, before it gets worse

At your appointment, your certified hearing care professional will:

Ask about your health history and hearing experiences
Inspect your ears with a video otoscope for physical signs of damage or earwax buildup
Perform tests to measure hearing sensitivity and speech understanding

Best of all? It's fast, painless, and completely free. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain, including peace of mind and personalized care.

Hear better, live healthier

Claim your FREE hearing test

Are you ready to hear the SPARK?

Take the next step toward better hearing. Our licensed professionals will guide you through a personalized hearing evaluation and fitting—so you can hear the difference of Miracle-EarSPARK™ for yourself. Try it risk-free and discover why over 90% of wearers prefer it after just one fitting.*

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Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences vary depending on severity of hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to adapt to amplification.

Our hearing evaluation and video otoscopic inspection are always free. A hearing evaluation is an audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs only. These are not medical exams or diagnoses nor are they intended to replace a physician's care. If you suspect a medical problem, please seek treatment from your doctor.

*Based on results of a study conducted by the manufacturer examining spontaneous acceptance of APD 3.0 in a group of new hearing aid users. Individual results may vary.