How to Prepare for a Hearing Test

Why Preparation Makes a Difference

A hearing test is a straightforward, painless appointment that typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Whether you are attending an NHS audiology department or visiting a high-street audiologist such as Boots Hearingcare or Specsavers Audiology, a little preparation beforehand can make a genuine difference to the accuracy of your results and the value you get from the consultation.

According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the average person waits ten years from first noticing hearing changes to seeking professional help. If you have taken the step to book a hearing test, you are already doing something positive for your long-term health. Arriving well prepared ensures that the audiologist can get the clearest possible picture of your hearing on the day, leading to more accurate results and better-informed recommendations.

This guide covers everything you need to know — from managing ear wax in the days before your appointment, to what to bring on the day, what tests to expect, and how to make the most of your results discussion afterwards.

Managing Ear Wax Before Your Appointment

One of the most common reasons for a hearing test needing to be rescheduled is ear wax buildup blocking the ear canal. Excess wax prevents sound from reaching the eardrum properly during testing, which can produce artificially poor results on your audiogram. The British Society of Audiology (BSA) recommends that patients take steps to manage wax before attending a hearing assessment.

If you are prone to ear wax buildup, begin using olive oil ear drops three to five days before your appointment. Here is the recommended approach:

• Use medical-grade olive oil ear drops, available from any pharmacy without a prescription
• Warm the bottle gently in your hands for a minute or two — drops at body temperature are more comfortable
• Lie on your side with the affected ear facing upward
• Place two to three drops into the ear canal
• Remain lying down for five to ten minutes to allow the oil to penetrate the wax
• Repeat twice daily for three to five days before your appointment

Important: Never use cotton buds to clean your ears. Cotton buds push wax deeper into the ear canal, compacting it against the eardrum and potentially causing damage. The ear is self-cleaning — the skin of the ear canal naturally migrates outward, carrying wax with it. If you have a significant wax problem, your audiologist may recommend professional ear wax removal (microsuction or irrigation) before proceeding with the hearing test.

If you have a perforated eardrum or have had ear surgery, do not use ear drops without consulting your GP or ENT specialist first.

Preparing Your Hearing History

The first part of any hearing assessment is a detailed case history. Your audiologist will ask a range of questions to understand your hearing, your medical background, and how any hearing difficulties are affecting your daily life. Preparing notes in advance means you are less likely to forget important details during the appointment.

Think about and jot down answers to the following questions before you attend:

About your hearing

• When did you first notice any changes in your hearing? Was it gradual or sudden?
• Does the difficulty affect one ear more than the other, or both equally?
• In what situations do you find hearing most difficult? (e.g., in restaurants, on the phone, watching television, in group conversations)
• Do you experience tinnitus — ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or humming sounds in your ears or head?
• Do you have any issues with balance or dizziness?
• Have you had any previous hearing tests? If so, when, and what were the results?

About your medical history

• Have you had any ear infections, ear surgery, or head injuries?
• Do you have any ongoing medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or autoimmune disorders? (These can affect hearing.)
• What medications are you currently taking? Some drugs are ototoxic, meaning they can affect hearing — including certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides), chemotherapy agents (cisplatin), high-dose aspirin, and loop diuretics.
• Does anyone in your family have hearing loss? Genetic factors play a significant role in many types of hearing loss.

About your noise exposure

• What is your current and past occupation? Have you worked in noisy environments such as construction, manufacturing, the military, or the music industry?
• Do you have noisy hobbies — shooting, motorcycling, attending concerts or festivals, DIY with power tools?
• Have you used hearing protection in noisy situations? See our guide on protecting your hearing for practical advice.

Having this information ready will save time and ensure the audiologist has a thorough understanding of your situation from the outset.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

A small amount of practical preparation on the day of your appointment can make the process smoother and more productive. Here is a checklist of what to bring:

• Your appointment confirmation — whether this is a letter, email, or text message with your appointment details
• A list of your medications — including dosages and how long you have been taking them
• Your hearing history notes — the notes you prepared using the guidance above
• Any previous audiograms — if you have had hearing tests elsewhere, bringing old results allows the audiologist to compare and track changes over time
• Your current hearing aids — if you already wear hearing aids, bring them along even if they are not working properly. The audiologist will want to check them and may be able to adjust or repair them
• A companion — consider bringing a family member, partner, or close friend. They can provide valuable perspective on how your hearing affects daily communication (you may not be fully aware of all the situations where you struggle), and they can help you remember the audiologist`s advice and recommendations afterwards
• A pen and notepad or smartphone — to take notes during the results discussion
• Photo ID — some clinics, particularly NHS audiology departments, may require identification

What to Do (and Avoid) on the Day

There are a few practical steps to take — and pitfalls to avoid — on the day of your hearing test to ensure the most accurate results:

Avoid loud noise for 24 hours

Exposure to loud noise in the hours before a hearing test can cause a temporary threshold shift — a short-term reduction in hearing sensitivity that can make your results appear worse than your actual baseline hearing. The BSA recommends avoiding the following for at least 24 hours before your appointment:

• Concerts, nightclubs, or live music events
• Listening to music at high volume through headphones or earbuds
• Using power tools, lawnmowers, or other loud machinery
• Attending shooting ranges or other noisy leisure activities

If you work in a noisy occupation, try to schedule your appointment for a day when you have not been exposed to workplace noise — for example, first thing on a Monday morning if you do not work weekends, or after a rest day. If this is an occupational hearing test, your employer should ensure you have had at least 16 hours away from noise exposure before testing.

Eat, drink, and take medications as normal

There are no dietary restrictions before a hearing test. You can eat breakfast, drink coffee, and take all your usual medications as normal. The exception is if you are also having a balance assessment (vestibular testing) — in which case your clinic may give specific instructions about caffeine and food intake, so check when you book.

Wear comfortable, accessible clothing

Choose clothing that allows easy access to your ears. Avoid large earrings, elaborate hairstyles pinned over the ears, or tight polo-neck jumpers that might interfere with headphone placement. If you wear spectacles, you will need to remove them briefly for certain tests — this is completely routine.

Arrive a few minutes early

Give yourself five to ten minutes before your appointment time to find the clinic, check in at reception, and complete any registration forms or health questionnaires. Rushing into the appointment feeling flustered can affect your concentration and potentially your results.

What Happens During the Hearing Test

Understanding what to expect during the test itself can help reduce any nervousness. A comprehensive hearing assessment typically includes several components:

Otoscopy

The audiologist will begin by examining your ear canals and eardrums using an otoscope — a small, handheld instrument with a light and magnifying lens. This allows them to check for wax buildup, signs of infection, perforated eardrums, or any other abnormalities. The examination is completely painless and takes only a minute or two.

Pure tone audiometry

This is the core of the hearing test. You will sit in a sound-treated room or booth, wearing headphones (for air conduction testing) and sometimes a bone conductor (a small vibrating device placed on the bone behind your ear). The audiologist will play a series of tones at different frequencies (pitches) and volumes. Each time you hear a sound — no matter how faint — you press a button or raise your hand. The results are plotted on an audiogram, which provides a visual map of your hearing at each frequency.

Speech audiometry

You may be asked to repeat words or sentences played at different volume levels. This tests how well you can understand speech — which is ultimately the most functionally important aspect of hearing. Speech-in-noise testing may also be conducted, where you listen to speech with background noise, simulating real-world listening conditions.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry involves placing a soft probe tip in your ear canal. The device changes the air pressure slightly and measures how your eardrum responds. This painless test takes just a few seconds per ear and provides information about middle ear function — it can help identify conditions such as glue ear, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or otosclerosis.

Other tests

Depending on your symptoms and the clinical setting, you may also have otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, which checks the function of the outer hair cells in the cochlea, or bone conduction testing to help differentiate between types of hearing loss. The audiologist will explain each test before conducting it.

Remember: A hearing test is not an exam. There is no passing or failing. The goal is simply to build an accurate picture of your hearing. If you are unsure whether you heard a sound, respond anyway — the audiologist expects borderline responses and will retest at those levels to confirm.

Questions to Ask Your Audiologist

After the test, the audiologist will explain your results and discuss recommendations. This is your opportunity to ask questions and make sure you fully understand your hearing status. Here are some useful questions to consider:

• What do my results show? Is my hearing within the normal range?
• If there is hearing loss, what type is it — sensorineural, conductive, or mixed?
• How does my hearing compare to my age group?
• If I have had previous tests, has my hearing changed?
• Do I need hearing aids? If so, what options are available?
• What is the difference between NHS hearing aids and private options?
• Are there any lifestyle changes I should make to protect my remaining hearing?
• Do I need any further tests or a referral to an ENT specialist?
• When should I come back for my next hearing test? (See our guide on how often you should have a hearing test.)
• Can I have a copy of my audiogram for my records?

A good audiologist will welcome your questions and take the time to ensure you leave the appointment feeling informed and confident about the next steps. If hearing aids are recommended, they will discuss the different types and styles available, the fitting process, and what to expect during the adjustment period.

After Your Hearing Test

Once your appointment is complete, there are a few important follow-up steps:

• Keep a copy of your audiogram — Ask for a printed or digital copy of your results. This serves as a baseline for future comparisons and is useful if you see a different audiologist in the future. Our guide to understanding your audiogram explains how to read and interpret the results.
• Follow through on recommendations — If the audiologist has recommended hearing aids, further tests, or a GP referral, act on these promptly. Early intervention leads to better outcomes, particularly for age-related hearing loss.
• Book your next appointment — Ask the audiologist when you should return for a follow-up and make a note in your calendar. Regular monitoring is key to managing hearing health effectively.
• Share your results — Let close family members or your partner know about your results. This is especially important if hearing aids are recommended, as their support during the adjustment period can make a significant difference.
• Consider a home visit hearing test — If mobility issues or transport difficulties made attending the appointment challenging, many audiologists offer home visit services for future appointments.

Whether your results show perfect hearing or indicate that further action is needed, you should feel reassured that you have taken an important and proactive step in looking after your hearing health. Regular hearing tests, combined with good ear care habits, are the foundation of lifelong hearing well-being.