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Take Our Free Online Hearing Test
Our free online hearing test combines a clinically validated questionnaire with a tone test to give you a clear picture of your hearing health. No account needed. No clinic visit required.
Free Hearing Assessment · audiologists.org
What age is your hearing?
A 5-minute check that tells you where your hearing stands — and exactly what to do next.
Built with licensed audiologists
5 minutes
No account needed
1
HHIA daily impact screening
10 clinically validated questions about how hearing affects your everyday life
2
Tone test — both ears
Works best with headphones. Takes about 3 minutes.
3
Your Hearing Health Age + next steps
See how your hearing compares — and what to do about it.
This assessment uses the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), a clinically validated screening tool. It is not a medical diagnosis.
When to get care quickly: Sudden hearing changes, severe ear pain, or dizziness — see your doctor or ENT promptly.
Daily Impact Screening
About this screening
The next 10 questions come from the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults — Screening Version (HHIA-S), a clinically validated tool used in audiologist offices worldwide. There are no right or wrong answers — just your experience.
Answer Yes, Sometimes, or No for each question. Do not skip a question if you avoid a situation because of your hearing. If you use a hearing aid, answer based on how you hear with your aid. Tap an answer to advance automatically.
Almost done — 2 quick questions
What is your age?
We'll use this to calculate your Hearing Health Age — a snapshot of how your hearing is performing right now.
54
your calendar age
Last step before the tone test
Where are you located?
We use this to find audiologists near you and personalise your results.
Please select your state.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code.
Setup — 1 minute
Let's make sure your test is accurate
A quick setup ensures the tones reach you at the right level.
🎧
Plug in headphones or earbuds
Speakers can't deliver accurate frequency separation. Any earbuds will do.
🔊
Set a comfortable volume
Adjust your device volume to a normal, comfortable listening level before you begin.
🔇
Find a quiet spot
Background noise is the most common reason for inaccurate results.
My headphones are plugged in
I'm in a quiet room right now
Tone Test
Listen carefully
Tap the button the moment you hear a tone. Some tones will be very soft.
◀ Left ear
Right ear ▶
TESTING FREQUENCY
1,000 Hz — speech clarity
Tone 3 of 12 · Left ear
Almost there
Your results are ready.
Enter your email to unlock your Hearing Health Age and personalized next steps.
67
Your Hearing Health Age
🔒
Enter your email to unlock
Please enter a valid email address.
Send me a copy of my results and summary to review later
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Your Results
Here's where your hearing stands
Mild Hearing Change — Both Ears
HHIA-S Screening Score
Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults — Screening Version (10 items)
18out of 40
Score: 18 out of 40 · HHIA-S Screening
Mild to Moderate Hearing Handicap
Your results indicate mild to moderate hearing handicap. You may be struggling in specific situations.
Scoring: Yes = 4 pts · Sometimes = 2 pts · No = 0 pts. Ranges: 0–8 no significant handicap · 10–24 mild to moderate · 26–40 significant handicap. Adapted from Ventry & Weinstein (1983).
Top picks for your HHIA profile — no prescription needed
Hearing specialist referral
An HHIA score of 18 or higher indicates enough daily impact to warrant a hearing evaluation with a licensed hearing specialist.
When to get care quickly: Sudden hearing changes, severe ear pain, or dizziness — see your doctor or ENT promptly.
Hearing Health Age
67
how your hearing is performing today
54Calendar Age
→
67Hearing Health Age
Your hearing is performing as if you were 67 — about 13 years beyond your calendar age. This pattern — clearer in lower tones, declining in higher frequencies — is consistent with early-to-moderate gradual hearing change.
Your hearing by frequency
Estimated profile based on your HHIA score — lower on the chart = softer sounds needed to hear that frequency.
Left ear
Right ear
Normal range
Estimated hearing profile based on your HHIA responses.
"I waited far too long. Getting hearing aids through audiologists.org changed everything — I can finally hear my grandkids at their soccer games and actually follow the conversation at Sunday dinner. I feel like I'm part of the family again."
Robert M., age 68
Charlotte, NC · Verified audiologists.org reader
Most people with mild to moderate hearing loss wait 7 years before getting a hearing aid.
Here are a few reasons we don't want you to wait!
~52
You'll be fully present at family gatherings — holidays, Sunday dinners, and time with grandkids
~36
You'll hear every cheer at kids' games & events — the coach, the plays, and sideline conversations
~1,460
You'll cut down on "what?" moments — the yearly average for people at your score (NCOA)
~24
You'll stay in the conversation at social outings — restaurants, church, and community events
Your recommended next steps
Based on your HHIA score, estimated audiogram, and zip code (28202, NC)
audiologists.org earns a commission from qualifying OTC purchases. Audiologist listings are from our verified directory.
Free · About 5 minutes · No account needed
What the assessment tells you
Answer 10 questions about how hearing affects your daily life, then complete a short tone test in each ear. You'll see where your hearing may stand and the next step that fits your results. The assessment was developed in partnership with the credentialed audiologists on our Clinical Advisory Board.
A snapshot of your hearing
The questionnaire shows how much hearing is affecting conversations, social life, and stress. The tone test checks how well each ear picks up soft tones across the pitches that matter for understanding speech.
A screening, not a diagnosis
Options that fit your results
If your results suggest mild to moderate difficulty, we'll show you over-the-counter and prescription hearing aid options to explore, drawn from our audiologist-reviewed guides. If your results point to more significant difficulty, we'll point you to an audiologist first.
Drawn from audiologist-reviewed guides
Audiologists near you
If a full hearing evaluation would help, we'll show licensed audiologists near your zip code so you can book an appointment and get care sooner.
Search by zip code
audiologists.org may earn a commission when you buy a hearing aid through links in your results. This doesn't change the price you pay. See how we review products.
How our online hearing test works
The audiologists.org Hearing Assessment combines two kinds of screening that audiologists often use together: a questionnaire about how hearing affects your everyday life, and a pure-tone check of each ear.
1
Daily impact questionnaire
Ten questions from the screening version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA-S), a validated tool developed by Newman and colleagues in 1990–1991. It measures how much hearing difficulty affects your social life and emotions.
2
Tone test in each ear
Using headphones, you'll hear tones at different pitches, one ear at a time, and tap when you hear each one. It takes about 3 minutes.
3
Your results and next steps
You'll see your questionnaire score, a summary of your tone test, and recommended next steps, including whether to schedule a full evaluation with an audiologist.
Clinical Advisory Board
Developed with our Medical Review Team
This assessment was developed in partnership with our Clinical Advisory Board of credentialed audiologists. They guided the choice of screening tools and how results are scored, and they review the next-step guidance you receive. The same team provides oversight for all content on audiologists.org, so what you read is grounded in evidence-based research and clinical expertise.
Dr. Rosette Ruth Reisman
AuD, MBA, CCC-A
A licensed audiologist with more than a decade of experience. Dr. Reisman trains audiologists in hearing implant counseling, fitting, and rehabilitation; teaches at the university level; and works with auditory processing disorders.
Dr. Hinson earned her Doctor of Audiology at the University of South Alabama and is licensed in Alabama. She specializes in hearing aid fitting and technical support, along with balance testing and auditory electrophysiology.
Dr. Morgan earned her audiology doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and practices within a large healthcare system in Maine, caring for patients of all ages.
Each answer is scored: Yes = 4 points, Sometimes = 2, No = 0. Totals range from 0 to 40. Higher scores mean hearing is having a bigger effect on your daily life.
Score
What it suggests
Suggested next step
0–8
No significant hearing handicap reported
Keep an eye on changes and retest yearly, or sooner if you notice new difficulty
10–24
Mild to moderate hearing handicap
A hearing evaluation with an audiologist is recommended. Hearing aids may help.
26–40
Significant hearing handicap
Schedule a full evaluation with an audiologist
A score is not a diagnosis. Two people with the same hearing levels can score very differently depending on their work, social life, and listening demands. That is why the assessment pairs the questionnaire with a tone test. To understand a professional hearing test, see our guide to reading your audiogram.
How accurate is an online hearing test?
An online hearing test is a useful screening tool. It can tell you whether a professional evaluation is a good idea. It can't measure your hearing as precisely as an audiologist's test in a sound-treated booth with calibrated equipment. Here is what an online test can't do:
Measure exact hearing levels. Headphones, earbuds, and device volume vary, so tone results are estimates.
Identify the type of hearing loss. Only a clinical exam can tell whether loss comes from the inner ear, the middle ear, or a blockage such as earwax. Some causes are treatable.
Examine your ears. An audiologist looks inside the ear canal and can check how the eardrum and middle ear are working.
Fully test speech understanding. Difficulty following conversation in noise is one of the most common complaints, and it is best measured in a clinic.
For the most reliable results, use wired or well-fitting headphones, sit in a quiet room, and set your volume to a normal listening level before you start. Not sure whether your symptoms are worth checking? Review the common signs of hearing loss.
When to skip the online test and get care quickly
See a doctor, ENT, or urgent care promptly if you have:
Sudden hearing loss or muffled hearing, especially in one ear
Hearing loss with dizziness, vertigo, or new ringing in one ear
Ear pain, drainage, or bleeding
Hearing changes after a head injury
Sudden hearing loss is considered a medical urgency, and treatment may work best when it starts early. Don't wait to see whether it improves on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the audiologists.org hearing test really free?
Yes. The assessment is free and you don't need to create an account.
Can an online hearing test diagnose hearing loss?
No. An online test is a screening tool. It can show whether hearing difficulty is likely and whether you should see a professional. Only a licensed audiologist or physician can diagnose hearing loss and identify its type and cause.
Do I need headphones for the tone test?
Yes. Headphones or earbuds let the test check each ear separately and deliver tones more consistently than speakers. Use a quiet room for the best results.
What should I do if my results show possible hearing loss?
Schedule a full hearing evaluation with an audiologist. They can confirm your results, identify the type of loss, and recommend treatment, which may include hearing aids. You can find an audiologist near you or read more about whether you might need hearing aids.
How often should adults have their hearing checked?
Recommendations vary by age and risk. Many audiologists suggest a baseline hearing test in adulthood and more regular checks after age 50, or sooner if you notice changes or work around loud noise. Your audiologist can recommend a schedule for you.
