What happens at a hearing test?

A hearing test is quick and painless, usually taking 30 to 60 minutes. Your audiologist has a brief chat about your hearing history, looks in your ears with an otoscope, then plays a series of tones and words through headphones in a quiet room to map how well you hear across different pitches. You will get your results and clear next steps on the day.

Step by step: case history, otoscopy and audiometry

1. A case history chat. Your audiologist asks about your hearing concerns, general health, medications and any noise exposure. 2. An otoscopy check. The otoscope gives a quick look inside each ear canal to check for wax build-up, infection or other visible issues before testing. 3. Pure-tone audiometry. You wear headphones in a quiet booth and indicate when you hear a series of soft tones at different pitches. 4. Speech testing. You repeat words or sentences, sometimes with background noise, to see how clearly you understand speech, not just tones. Sometimes tympanometry also checks the middle ear and eardrum. 5. Results and discussion. Your audiologist explains your results using an audiogram, a simple hearing chart, and talks through any next steps.

Will the hearing test hurt?

No. A hearing test is non-invasive and painless. The otoscope check is brief and gentle, and the listening tasks involve nothing more than headphones and a quiet room. Most people find the whole process relaxed and straightforward.

What does the audiogram and results show?

Your results are plotted on an audiogram, which shows the quietest sound you can hear at different pitches in each ear. This helps your audiologist identify whether you have hearing loss, and if so, the type and degree, which guides any recommendations for treatment or hearing aids.

What happens after the hearing test?

If your hearing is within a normal range, your audiologist will let you know and suggest when to test again. If there is some hearing loss, they will explain the type and degree, discuss options such as hearing aids or further medical review, and answer your questions. There is no obligation to proceed with anything on the day, and you can take time to consider your options.

For more information, visit Healthdirect (healthdirect.gov.au) (opens in a new tab).

Sources: Healthdirect. Information current July 2026 and general in nature.