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Hearing test do’s and don’ts
From cleaning your ears to bringing a friend, learn how to come prepared for your next hearing exam.
Do you have a hearing test coming up? That’s good news. Getting this important exam on the calendar is a key health move.
Perhaps you made the appointment because you’re having trouble hearing conversations, especially in noisy places. Or you keep having to turn up the volume when you listen to music or watch TV.
Whatever the reason, you’ve booked a visit with a hearing care professional. And you may be wondering how to prepare for the appointment. Are there special things you can do beforehand? How about the day of?
Our expert guide will answer all your burning questions — and help you get the most from your hearing test. Here’s what to do (and what not to do).
Do make sure your ears are clean
Hearing care professionals can’t conduct a hearing test if they can’t see your eardrum, says Traci Gamble, a hearing instrument specialist at Beltone Hearing Care Centers in Lady Lake, Florida. They need to see how well your eardrum moves and whether it’s blocked by wax or fluid from an infection.1
You can clean your ears ahead of the test in a few ways, Gamble says.
- If you have an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) beforehand, have them check your ears for ear wax or an infection.
- If you know you’re prone to ear wax buildup, use a wax cleaning kit at home a few days before the test. You can buy the kits at a pharmacy. Many come with wax-softening drops and a bulb syringe to flush out your ears.2
Don’t worry that the test will be painful
There are many types of hearing tests (also known as audiometry).1 A common one is called a pure-tone test.3 It measures how well you hear different tones and words.
The hearing care professional will put you in a soundproof room or booth. You’ll get a pair of headphones. Then they will play various high and low tones. They’ll also test your ability to hear words.3
Rest assured that a pure-tone test is not uncomfortable. You don’t have to worry that any of the sounds will be loud enough to harm your ears. And the hearing exam itself won’t hurt, either.
Ready to request a hearing exam and consultation? AARP Hearing Solutions has a national network of hearing care professionals. Request an appointment.
Do bring notes with details
Your hearing care professional will want to know if you’re having trouble hearing. So come prepared to the appointment with notes on the following:4
- A log or record of where and what you have trouble hearing. This could include your grandchildren’s voices, conversations with friends or meetings.
- A list of activities that may be getting harder for you to do, either at work, socially or at home
- A list of medications you take (certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs could affect your hearing)
Don’t expose yourself to loud noises before your test
Sounds at or over 85 decibels can damage your hearing, especially if they go on too long. These include the sounds from a gas-powered lawn mower, a blow dryer, a jackhammer and sirens.
Try to avoid loud noises at least 12 hours before your hearing exam.4 If you can’t — you need to mow your lawn, for instance, or you work in construction — wear earplugs or earmuffs. Extreme loud noise can trigger tinnitus (ringing in the ears), Gamble says. “And tinnitus can sometimes interfere with test results.”
Do bring a loved one to the appointment
If you can, have your spouse or a family member come to the appointment with you. They can help fill any gaps that you’ve forgotten when describing your medical history.
But, more importantly, they can provide a familiar voice if the hearing test shows you have hearing loss, Gamble says. Why is this important? Your hearing care professional might show you how hearing aids can help by asking your loved one to speak when you have them on, she adds. It may be easier to understand the way hearing aids improve your everyday life when you’re hearing a voice that you know well.
Do ask questions after the test
Your hearing care professional should be able to go over the hearing test results as soon as it’s over. They’ll let you know the type of hearing loss you have, whether it’s mild or more severe and ways to treat it, including with hearing aids.5
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your results. And if you don’t understand something, ask your hearing care professional to explain it another way.
For example, you might want to ask about specific sounds you missed as you look over the results. That will help you understand why you might not be hearing your partner’s voice or the turn signal on your car as well as you could be, Gamble says.
No matter if it’s your first hearing test or one you’re taking after a few years, these tips will help you get the most out of it. And help your hearing care professional fit you with the right hearing aids if you need them.
Sources
- Hearing test (audiometry) Cleveland Clinic. Accessed May 4, 2025.
- Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for ear wax removal Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing. Accessed May 4, 2025.
- Hearing tests for adults Medline Plus. Accessed May 4, 2025.
- Prepare for an appointment Hearing Loss Association of America. Accessed May 4, 2025.
- Hearing screening and hearing testing American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Accessed May 4, 2025.
Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.
AARP Hearing Solutions is available to all AARP members and does not require a health insurance plan from UnitedHealthcare. The AARP hearing program discount cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotions, coupons or hearing aid benefit plans unless noted herein. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not available on a discounted or complimentary basis. AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. UnitedHealthcare Hearing is provided through UnitedHealthcare, offered to existing members of certain products underwritten or provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates to provide specific hearing aid discounts. This is not an insurance nor managed care product, and fees or charges for services in excess of those defined in program materials are the member's responsibility. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse nor guarantee hearing aid products/services available through the hearing program. This program may not be available in all states or for all group sizes. Components subject to change.
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