Do these hearing loss symptoms sound familiar? Your brain is a wonder of nature, quietly adapting when sound levels start to change. That’s why many people don’t notice hearing loss straight away. You might be experiencing hearing loss if: You often need to ask people to repeat themselves Conversations in noisy places are difficult You need to turn the TV up louder You experience ringing in your ears (tinnitus) Hearing on the phone feels challenging If these sound familiar, we’re here to support you - a hearing test can be the first step towards hearing life in full clarity. Getting to know you and your hearing At the start of your test, your audiologist will ask simple questions to get to know you. This time is really important as hearing isn’t just about what you can hear, but how hearing affects your everyday life We’ll talk about your general medical history Any hearing concerns you have noticed When and where you struggle to hear most Your lifestyle, work, and social environments We’ll use an otoscope to look inside your ear Next, we’ll gently look inside your ears using a small device called an otoscope. It’s quick and comfortable and helps us check it’s ok for us to keep going with the hearing test. The otoscope checks for: Earwax build-up Signs of infection or irritation Any physical issues that may affect hearing Now comes the Pure Tone test Ok, next you’ll wear headphones and listen to a series of quiet tones at different pitches and volumes. Each time you hear a sound, you’ll tell us your response. This test measures the quietest sounds you can hear across a range of frequencies, helping us understand: Whether you have hearing loss

The degree of hearing loss Which pitches are affected Next is a speech and speech-in-noise test Hearing’s not just about tones, it is about understanding speech. This helps us understand why talking may feel tiring or unclear, especially in busy environments such as restaurants, family gatherings, or meetings. It can help to bring a friend or family member to your appointment to have a familiar voice for this part of your hearing assessment, but it’s not crucial. Once done, we’ll walk through your test Once the test is complete, your audiologist will talk through your results with you: Explaining your audiogram in a clear, easy-to-understand way The type and degree of any hearing loss How this may be affecting your daily life If you don’t have hearing loss – great news. But if we do find something, we’ll talk through next steps and give you advice on hearing aid options or ear wax removal. But there’s no obligation – everything is just advice to find something that feels right for you. Take the first step Many people hold off getting a hearing test because they feel anxious about the results. But don’t worry, you’re in the very best of hands. Please come and see us if: You realise you’re having difficulty hearing all the time Your family or friends comment on your hearing You’re finding it hard in group conversations Hearing rarely improves on its own, but our audiologists are here to guide you with expert advice so you can enjoy the best hearing possible. Frequently asked questions How do I know if I need a hearing test? Am I too young to have hearing loss? Does hearing loss happen suddenly? Is hearing loss permanent? What should I do if I think I have hearing loss? What happens on a hearing test? What resources are available if I’m experiencing hearing loss?