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Book a free hearing test near you.

Our free, no obligation hearing test takes place at an independent opticians near you. Taking between 30 to 90 minutes, your results are explained on the day.

No GP referral needed · No obligation · 30-90 minutes

The short answer

What is a free hearing test?

A free hearing test, also called a free hearing assessment, is an appointment with a registered audiologist that checks how well you hear and how healthy your ears are. It usually includes a look inside your ears, tests with tones and speech, and your results explained on the day. With us it’s free for adults, with no obligation.

  • We check your hearing and your ear health
  • Carried out by a registered audiologist, with calibrated equipment
  • Results explained in plain English, straight away

Is it for me?

Is a hearing test right for you?

Hearing usually changes slowly, so the signs are easy to miss. If any of these sound familiar, a free hearing test is the simplest way to find out where you stand.

  • Busy places are challenging

    Finding it hard to follow conversation in a restaurant, a shop or a family gathering.

  • Asking people to repeat

    Saying “sorry?” more often, or voices sounding muffled and unclear.

  • Changes in your home

    Turning the TV volume up, relying on subtitles, or missing the doorbell or the phone.

  • Ringing or buzzing

    Noises in your ears that nobody else can hear, all the time or now and then.

Not sure yet? · 2 minutes

Try our online hearing test

A quick first look you can do at home with headphones in 2 minutes. It isn’t a substitute for a hearing test with an audiologist and calibrated equipment, so if it suggests a change, book a free test.

Cost and eligibility

How much does a hearing test cost?

Nothing. Our free hearing assessment costs nothing for any adult, at every one of our practices.

There’s no obligation to buy hearing aids or book ear wax removal, even if your audiologist recommends them. Our job is to assess your hearing, give you expert advice and help you decide what to do next.

A charge may apply only if you ask for a written report of your results for non-medical reasons.

A couple talking and having tea.

During your hearing test

What happens during a hearing test?

A hearing test is a simple, comfortable way to check the health of your ears and understand how well you’re hearing. We’ll guide you through everything at your pace, explain your results clearly, and talk through any next steps.

  • 1

    We get to know you

    A conversation about your hearing, your health and the situations you find hardest and where you want to improve.

  • 2

    Ear health check

    We look inside your ears and show you the images. We check for wax, infection or anything needing a GP.

  • 3

    Hearing assessment

    Tones, speech and middle-ear tests in a quiet room, using calibrated equipment.

  • 4

    Results and recommendation

    We go through your audiogram together and agree what, if anything, to do next.

We recommend it

Bring along a friendly face

A partner, friend or family member is very welcome to join you for any of our hearing tests.

  • A second pair of ears

    There’s a lot to take in. They can help you remember your results and what your audiologist recommends.

  • They’ve noticed things too

    Family often spot changes first, like the TV volume or missed conversations. What they’ve noticed helps build the full picture.

  • Someone to talk it through with

    No decision is needed on the day. Having someone there makes it easier to think about next steps together.

What’s included

Three levels of free hearing test.

Our free hearing assessment comes in three levels, from a quick check to our most thorough test. You don’t need to choose: when you book, a few quick questions about your hearing match you to the right one.

  • 30 minutes

    Initial hearing test

    A simple first step if you’ve no particular concerns, or if you’re helping someone you love take a first look at their hearing.

    • A chat about any hearing difficulties
    • Where and when you’d like to hear more clearly
    • Ear health check with images of your ear canals
    • Hearing screening
    • Advice on next steps if needed
  • 60 minutes

    Complete hearing test

    For anyone who’s finding conversations take more effort than it used to, or has had it pointed out by the people around them.

    • Everything in the initial hearing test
    • More time to talk through your lifestyle and listening needs
    • Middle ear function test (tympanometry)
    • A full assessment of your hearing thresholds
    • How any hearing loss is affecting your day-to-day life
    • Personalised recommendations based on your results
  • 90 minutes

    Ultimate hearing test

    Our most thorough hearing test. Time to understand exactly what’s changed, how it’s affecting you day to day, and what would make the biggest difference.

    • Everything in the complete hearing test
    • A detailed look at where you’d like to hear better
    • Input from a family member or partner, if you’d like
    • Advanced assessment of your hearing in noisy, complex listening situations
    • A further look at how hearing solutions could help you
    • Recommendations built around your lifestyle and long-term goals

After your hearing test

Hearing test results, explained on the day.

Whatever the result, you’ll understand your hearing and your options before you go home.

  • Your results explained in plain English, on the day
  • A short written summary of what we found
  • A clear recommendation, which may be no action at all
  • Time to think: no obligation, and no pressure to decide on the day

If your test finds hearing loss

What happens if hearing loss is found?

Hearing loss is very common, and there are effective ways to treat it. Your audiologist will explain what your results mean, and there’s never any pressure to decide on the day.

  • Hearing aids

    Your audiologist will explain what we’ve found and, if hearing aids would help, talk you through the options that suit your hearing, your lifestyle and the situations that matter most to you.

    We’re 100% independent, so we’re not tied to one manufacturer. Today’s hearing aids are smaller and smarter than ever, with a 60-day money-back guarantee to allow you to try them in your day-to-day life. Ask us anything about features, costs and payment plans.

  • Ear wax removal

    If wax build-up is affecting your hearing, we can remove it with manual removal, microsuction or water irrigation, whichever is best for your ears.

    Ear wax removal costs £70 and takes about 30 minutes in practice.

Who you’ll see

Your hearing test is with a registered audiologist.

Every hearing assessment is carried out by a qualified, registered audiologist, working to one clinical standard at every practice. These are some of the people you could see.

Who we are

Hearing care inside independent opticians

The Hearing Care Partnership puts qualified audiologists into independent opticians across the UK. You’re seen in a practice you know, by a registered audiologist, with our clinical team behind them. We’re part of Leightons, a family business since 1928.

partner practices
450+
family-run since
1928
from 1,900+ reviews
4.8

Some of the opticians we work in. Find your nearest practice →

Hear it from our patients.

  • 5 out of 5

    Audiologist Appointment

    Audiologist Appointment - Shepton Mallet. I booked an apt following a recommendation to investigate my muffled ear with an audiologist. I was dreading the appointment as it would be the first time to have any kind of hearing test.

    DPTrustpilot

  • 5 out of 5

    My hearing test was thorough

    My hearing test was thorough, professional and friendly. All the tests were explained clearly. At the end the audiologist did not recommend a hearing aid, which I was pleased about. I can recommend.

    JeannieTrustpilot

  • 5 out of 5

    I can hear again!

    I got an ear wax removal here and the audiologist was very kind, helpful, and thorough. We used a mix of microsuction and water-removal and I think combining the two allowed for a more flexible treatment. My ears are nice and clear now and my hearing has improved a lot.

    Phoebe HobbsTrustpilot

Book online or by phone

Book your free hearing test.

New to us

Book a free hearing test

Choose a practice and a time online, confirmed straight away. Free for adults 18+, with no obligation to buy.

Prefer to talk?

Call us, or we’ll call you

0800 52 00 546 · Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 5pm. Or leave your number and we’ll ring you back.

Free hearing test FAQs

Straight answers to the questions patients ask most about our hearing care services.

Yes. Our free hearing test is free for all adults, with no obligation to buy hearing aids or book ear wax removal afterwards. A charge may apply only if you ask for a written report of your results for non-medical reasons.

Related

More about your hearing.