You can get a free hearing test on the NHS through a GP referral to an audiologist, and many large pharmacies and opticians also offer free hearing tests to adults. If you need hearing aids, the NHS provides them free on long-term loan, or you can buy them privately from a provider with a wider choice of styles.
Get urgent help if...
The NHS advises you to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have sudden hearing loss in 1 or both ears
- your hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
- you have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as earache or discharge coming out of the ear
When you might need a hearing test
Hearing loss often comes on slowly, so it can be hard to notice. The NHS lists signs such as difficulty hearing other people clearly in noisy places, asking people to repeat themselves, and needing the TV or music louder than other people do. Feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening is another sign.
Some causes can be treated, such as an ear infection, earwax build-up or a perforated eardrum. Others, such as hearing loss caused by ageing or by loud noise, are usually permanent. The NHS says to see a GP if you think your hearing is getting gradually worse, or if you have had treatment for an ear infection or earwax build-up and your hearing has not come back.
NHS or private
Hearing tests
A GP can refer you or your child to a hearing specialist (an audiologist), and the test is free on the NHS. Adults can also have a free hearing test at many large pharmacies and opticians, although they may charge for treatment that follows. The charity RNID runs a free online hearing check, which the NHS points to as a starting point.
Hearing aids
NHS hearing aids are free as a long-term loan. Batteries and repairs are free, and you do not pay for follow-up appointments or aftercare. The NHS notes that the aids it provides are usually the behind the ear (BTE) type, or very occasionally the receiver in the ear (RITE) type, and that waiting times can be longer than going private.
Private providers offer a wider range, including smaller styles that sit in the ear or in the ear canal. Prices vary a lot between providers, so ask for a written quote that sets out what is included, such as aftercare, follow-up visits and batteries, before you agree to buy.
For some people, ordinary hearing aids do not help enough. The NHS describes implants, such as cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aids, which are arranged through specialist NHS services.
What happens at a hearing test
Hearing tests are usually done by an audiologist at a hospital, clinic, pharmacy or optician. According to the NHS, a test usually takes around 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on which tests you have. Common tests for adults include:
- Pure tone audiometry: you listen to sounds through headphones and respond when you hear them
- Speech audiometry: a test of how well you hear speech
- Tympanometry: a check of how well your eardrum moves
You usually get your results at the end of the appointment. The audiologist will explain what they found and talk you through next steps, which may include hearing aids, a referral or no treatment at all.
If you are offered hearing aids, the main types the NHS describes are behind the ear, receiver in the ear, in the ear, in the canal, completely in the canal and body worn aids. The right type depends on your hearing loss and what you find comfortable to use.
How to check a hearing provider is registered
Hearing aid dispensers are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). "Hearing aid dispenser" is a protected title, so anyone using it must be on the HCPC Register. You can search the register by surname or registration number before you book.
When you compare providers, it is reasonable to ask:
- who will carry out the test, and are they HCPC registered
- whether the hearing test is free, and what you will pay if you are offered hearing aids
- what aftercare, follow-up appointments and repairs are included
- whether you can take your test results away to compare quotes elsewhere
Find a hearing clinic
Our hearing clinics guide lists hearing and audiology providers by city, including NHS and private services. If you think earwax may be the problem, a pharmacist or the nurse at your GP surgery is a good first stop.
Sources: NHS: Hearing loss | NHS: Hearing tests | NHS: Hearing aids and implants | HCPC: Check the register | HCPC: Prosecution policy, protection of title.
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice call NHS 111.