Pass or Fail: Should You Trust Online Hearing Screenings? 

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀. When backed by research-approved methodologies and the right equipment, screenings not only identify hearing loss, but specific changes in your pitch range, hearing in both ears, and clue audiologists in on potential hearing conditions.

Online hearing tests might flag hearing loss, however, these tests are akin to self-diagnosing. 

⚠️Patients risk long term hearing damage when they self-diagnose and begin using over-the-counter hearing aids without guidance from experienced professionals ⚠️.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind about online hearing tests:  

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

At-home hearing tests require microphone-equipped headphones 🎧. Most consumer headphones aren’t calibrated for hearing screenings and as a result, they risk picking up ambient noises in your home, from the hum of your fridge to the drip of your pet’s water fountain.

Professional hearing screenings are conducted in soundproof rooms with auditory testing equipment.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱

Though they’re labeled as “hearing tests” some tests, such as those that ask you to repeat numbers or words, are also homing in on memory, cognition, and speech in noise—not just hearing. Measuring so much at once hampers test accuracy, especially for users with existing problems in any of these areas.  

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀⚕️

Online hearing screenings’ capabilities are limited. For instance, they can’t perform a physical exam or the follow up tests necessary to diagnose the type and causes of your hearing loss or related conditions. This is another reason why working with a licensed audiologist is an ideal choice when you begin questioning your hearing.  

𝗕𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

Hearing tests created by hearing aid companies are usually designed to push products, not health. These cloak and dagger test pages appear legitimate, but they serve one real purpose—to sell hearing aid products.

After “diagnosing” your hearing, the test will often take you to a page featuring the products of the brand sponsoring the test.

Remember, self-testing online is equivalent to self-diagnosing and leads to self-treatment. There’s nothing wrong with researching 💻 hearing health and the options available, but your questions and testing are best addressed by a licensed audiologist who will make personal recommendations based on your unique situation.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥📞 (𝟳𝟬𝟭) 𝟱𝟳𝟮-𝟭𝟬𝟳𝟳 𝗼𝗿 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆