Hearing loss
How often should you get your hearing tested?
For most adults, a routine hearing test every two years is a sensible interval. If you have a diagnosed hearing loss, or you wear hearing aids, test every year so your hearing aids can be adjusted if your hearing changes.
Complimentary for anyone 55 and over.
Independent, not tied to one manufacturer
Complimentary hearing tests for anyone 55+
Complimentary hearing aid demos
State of the art equipment
Routine testing
Every two years for a routine check
Test sooner if you notice a change, work around noise, or have a health condition linked to hearing loss. If you are 55 or over and have never had a hearing test, start now: it’s complimentary at Hear & Co.
Hearing changes slowly, and a two-year interval is frequent enough to detect any early changes. A routine test takes under an hour, gives you a current audiogram to compare against the last one, and often ends with "see you in two years". If your hearing is normal, a retest within two to three years is sufficient. If there is any hearing loss, even at one pitch, we recommend testing every year. For anyone 55 and over, the test is complimentary in order to eliminate any cost barriers.
With a diagnosed loss
Every year with a diagnosed hearing loss
If you have been told you have a hearing loss, or you wear hearing aids, schedule an annual hearing test. Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss tends to progress gradually, and an annual test allows us to reprogram your aids to your current prescription.
At Hear & Co, we recommend an annual retest for everyone wearing hearing aids.
Sooner, or more often
Risk factors that change the schedule
Test sooner, or more often, if any of these apply:
- Noise exposure. Work in construction, manufacturing, farming, transportation, music or the military, or loud hobbies such as shooting, motorsport or power tools. Consider an annual test and a baseline before you start a noisy job.
- A change you have noticed. New difficulty with noise, asking people to repeat themselves, turning the television up. Don’t wait for the two-year mark.
- Sudden change. A sudden drop in one or both ears requires same-day attention. Seek emergency care if we are closed.
- Tinnitus. New or worsening ringing in the ears is a reason to book a test right away.
- Health conditions. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and some autoimmune conditions are associated with higher rates of hearing loss.
- Medications. Some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, loop diuretics and high-dose aspirin can affect hearing. If you are on one of these medications, ask about testing before and during treatment.
- Family history. Hearing loss that runs in your family.
- Age. From 55 onward, hearing loss becomes steadily more common, which is why we offer complimentary tests beginning at this age.
- Employment requirements. Some jobs and licences require testing on their own schedule. See our employment hearing test page.
The baseline
What a baseline hearing test gives you
An ideal baseline is a hearing test done while your hearing is normal, or at least before you have a concern. Its value is comparison. When you test again in two years, the question is not "is this normal for my age?" but "has anything changed since last time?". A change is far easier to spot against your own baseline than against a population average. For people starting a noisy job, a baseline also documents your hearing before any exposure, which matters for a potential future WSIB claim.
If you are over 55 and have never had a hearing test, a complimentary baseline is recommended.
A note on wording
A note on frequencies in a hearing test
People sometimes search "hearing test frequency" meaning the pitches tested rather than how often to test. Briefly: a standard hearing test measures your hearing at frequencies from 250 to 8,000 hertz, from low pitches (bass sounds) to high pitches (treble sounds, like a bird call). Speech sits mostly between 500 and 4,000 hertz. Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss usually begins above 2,000 Hz, affecting the clarity of speech and higher-pitched voices. Consonants carry the clarity and meaning of speech; when consonants are missed, people may seem as if they are mumbling.
Good to know
Questions about hearing test frequency
How often should a 60-year-old get a hearing test?
Every two years as a routine check, and every year if a hearing loss has been diagnosed. The test is complimentary at Hear & Co for anyone 55 and over.
Do I need a hearing test if I have no symptoms?
A baseline is worth having from 55 onward even without symptoms, because early hearing loss often has no noticeable symptoms.
How often should hearing aid users be tested?
Every year, to ensure the hearing aids are reprogrammed to the current hearing loss.
When should I get a hearing test right away?
After any sudden change in hearing (call us the same day), after a loud noise exposure that left your ears ringing for more than a day, or when someone close to you says your hearing has changed.
Is a hearing test the same as a hearing screening?
No. A screening is a quick pass or fail check, often done online or at a pharmacy. A hearing test measures each ear across the full range of pitches and includes speech testing and middle ear testing. Only a full test gives you a baseline.
Book
Book a baseline test or your next check-up
Complimentary for anyone 55 and over. Under an hour, results explained on the spot.