Free hearing test
Free hearing tests for anyone 55 and over
A comprehensive hearing test with an expert, certified hearing instrument specialist. Your results explained the same visit. No pressure, no obligation.
Complimentary for anyone 55 and over
A comprehensive hearing test, not a screening
Results explained the same visit
Complimentary hearing aid demo if a loss is found
Who it is for
Who can get a free hearing test
Anyone 55 or older. You do not need to already suspect a problem. Many people book because a partner has mentioned the television volume, because conversation in restaurants has become hard work, or simply because they have never had their hearing checked and want a baseline.
Everyone should have their hearing tested every two years, whatever their age. For adults under 55, the test is $55, credited back if hearing aids are purchased through our clinic.
The visit
What happens during a hearing test
A conversation
We ask about your hearing and how long it has been changing, your general health, any noise you have been exposed to over the years, medications, and the situations where you struggle most: restaurants, phone calls, the television, group conversations. This shapes the test and, more importantly, the advice at the end.
A look in your ears
Using an otoscope, we check your ear canals and eardrums. Ear wax is a common reason for muffled hearing. If that is what we find, we can remove it during the same visit as a separate service with its own fee, $95 per session, whether we treat one ear or both.
A middle ear test
A short test called tympanometry is done during every exam. A soft probe rests at the entrance of your ear canal for a few seconds and measures how your eardrum moves, which tells us whether there is fluid or a blockage in the middle ear.
The hearing test itself
You wear earphones in a sound-treated booth and press a button each time you hear a tone. Each ear is tested separately. The tones cover the pitches that matter for speech. We also test how well you understand words in a quiet setting and with background noise.
Your results, explained
We go through your audiogram line by line: what you hear well, what you miss, how the two ears compare, and what it means for the situations you described. If your hearing is fine, we say so and suggest when to check again. If there is a loss, we explain the options without pressure. If anything needs a physician, we tell you and help you get an appointment.
What you take home
A copy of your audiogram, a plain language summary, and a recommendation you can take to your family doctor. That might be "see you in two years", it might be a complimentary hearing aid demo, or it might be a referral.
Timing
How long does a hearing test take?
Plan to be here for about an hour. The testing itself is roughly 20 minutes, and the rest is the conversation before and the explanation after, which is the part people find most useful. If you also need wax removed, or want to try hearing aids the same day, allow a little longer.
Preparation
Before your appointment
- Avoid very loud noise, such as concerts or power tools, the day before. It can temporarily lower your results.
- Bring a list of your medications and any previous hearing test results.
- If you can, bring someone whose voice you know well. It helps during the speech test and the conversation afterwards.
- If you have a cold or a blocked ear, tell us when you book. We may suggest waiting a week.
Where we are
Hearing tests near you
Hear & Co is at 7-1100 Golf Links Road in Ancaster. We see people from all over, including Hamilton, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown and the Mountain, as well as Burlington, Brantford and Caledonia. There is free parking at the door and a ground-floor entrance.
Good to know
Common questions about hearing tests
Is the hearing test really free?
Yes, for anyone 55 or older. Adults under 55 pay $55, credited back if hearing aids are purchased through our clinic.
Is a hearing test covered by OHIP?
OHIP does not cover routine adult hearing tests at private clinics. That is one reason we make ours complimentary for anyone 55 and over. Some extended health plans reimburse hearing tests for younger adults.
How much is a hearing test in Ontario?
Prices at private clinics vary. At Hear & Co, the test is complimentary if you are 55 or over and $55 if you are younger, credited back against hearing aids.
How long does a hearing test take?
Plan to be here for about an hour, with roughly 20 minutes of actual testing.
Do I need a referral?
No. Book directly online, by phone at 289-246-8005, or by email at info@hearco.ca.
How do I read my hearing test results?
Your audiogram shows pitch from low to high across the top and loudness from soft to loud down the side. Each mark (an X for the left ear and an O for the right ear) represents the quietest sound you heard at that pitch. Xs and Os near the top of the audiogram mean normal hearing; marks lower down mean that the tone at that pitch has to be louder before you can hear it. We walk you through your results before you leave, so that you can understand what you can and cannot hear.
Can I do a hearing test online?
Online screeners can give a rough idea, but they cannot control the volume of your device or test each ear accurately. An in-clinic test with calibrated equipment is the only accurate and appropriate test, and ours is complimentary if you are 55 or over.
Book
Book your free hearing test online
Book online, call 289-246-8005 or email info@hearco.ca. Appointments are usually available within the week.