Advice · Hearing tests
What to expect at your first hearing test
A lot of people put off a hearing test because they are not sure what it involves. Here is exactly what happens, step by step.
By Asa Richards, Clinical Director1 September 2026
Most people who come in for a hearing test have never had one before, and the biggest thing holding them back is simply not knowing what to expect. It's a straightforward, unhurried appointment, and there's nothing to prepare beforehand.
Before you arrive
There's very little to do. If you already wear a hearing aid, bring it along with any paperwork. If you take medication that affects your ears, or you've had ear surgery in the past, it helps to mention it, but you don't need to write anything down or fill in a form in advance.
The appointment itself
A full test at our Clevedon clinic takes 60 to 90 minutes, which is longer than most people expect. That time isn't padding: it covers a proper conversation about your hearing and how it affects your day to day, an examination of your ears with a video otoscope so you can see what we see, and the hearing test itself, played through headphones in a quiet room.
The test measures how well you hear a range of tones from low to high pitch, in each ear separately. It's not uncomfortable and there's no need to strain to hear anything, you simply respond when you notice a sound.
Getting your results
At the end, we go through your results together using your audiogram, a simple chart of what you can and can't hear at different pitches. We explain it in plain terms, not jargon, and if there's any hearing loss, we'll talk through what's realistic: whether it's something to monitor, or whether a hearing aid would help, and if so, roughly what that would involve. There's no pressure to decide anything on the day.
It really is free
The test itself carries no charge and no obligation. Plenty of people come in just to check, get a clean result, and leave. Others decide to look at hearing aids. Either way, you'll know where you stand.
Questions people ask
Hearing test FAQ
How long does a hearing test take?
Around 60 to 90 minutes, including time to talk through your hearing, an ear examination, the test itself, and a full explanation of your results.
Do I need to bring anything?
Just yourself. If you already wear hearing aids, bring them along with any paperwork you have.
Is the hearing test uncomfortable?
No. You'll wear headphones in a quiet room and simply respond when you notice a tone. There's no discomfort involved.
Will I be pressured to buy a hearing aid?
No. The test is free with no obligation. If a hearing aid would help, we'll explain why and what it would involve, but the decision is entirely yours.
Ready to find out where you stand?
Book a free hearing test at our Clevedon clinic, no obligation attached.