Online Hearing Test: What the Result Means and What to Do Next
In short. An online or app hearing test is a screening: it can flag that you should get tested, but it is not a diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), its hearWHO app is not a formal hearing test and does not replace advice from a professional; finding out whether there is hearing loss, and of what type and degree, takes a professional hearing test. This page is about what to do once you have a result.
Screening versus a full hearing test
The two do different jobs:
- Purpose. A screening identifies who should be tested further (ASHA). A full test establishes whether there is hearing loss, and its type and degree (WHO).
- How it is done. A screening runs on your phone or computer, with your own headphones. A full test uses calibrated equipment, in a quiet room, with a professional.
- What you get. A screening gives a score or a recommendation to follow up. A full test gives an audiogram and a conversation about the findings.
- Main limit. According to ASHA, screening tools vary widely and depend on the calibration of the device used.
Once you have a full test, how to read an audiogram explains the chart, and hearing tests explained covers what each common test measures.
What an online test does not do
What an online test does not do:
- It is not a diagnosis. According to the WHO, hearWHO is not a formal hearing test and does not replace a health professional.
- It does not tell the type or degree of hearing loss: the WHO says a professional assessment is needed to diagnose it.
- It depends on your equipment. hearWHO needs earphones or headphones (WHO), and tools vary and depend on calibration (ASHA).
- It is not for sudden hearing loss. According to NIDCD, that is a medical emergency: see a doctor right away.
Why the test uses speech in noise
According to the WHO, hearWHO is based on digits-in-noise: it plays 23 sets of three digits over background noise, and you enter the digits you heard.
That is close to everyday life. One of the questions in the NIDCD checklist is whether you have trouble hearing family or friends when you are together in a restaurant.
What a hearWHO score means
According to the WHO, the hearWHO app plays sets of three digits against background noise, 23 times, and gives a score from 0 to 100. The WHO reads the score like this:
- Below 50: there is probably some hearing loss (WHO). Next step: a hearing test with a professional (WHO).
- 50 to 75: worth keeping an eye on (WHO). Next step: check again about once a year and avoid loud sounds (WHO).
- Above 75: hearing appears good (WHO). Next step: keep listening safely and repeat the check once a year, or when you notice a change (WHO).
These bands apply to hearWHO only. Other online tools use other scales, so their scores cannot be compared directly.
A short NIDCD checklist
NIDCD offers a short checklist for adults aged 18 to 64. Answer yes or no:
- Do you sometimes feel embarrassed when you meet new people because you struggle to hear?
- Do you feel frustrated when talking to family members because you have difficulty hearing them?
- Do you have difficulty hearing or understanding co-workers, clients or customers?
- Do you feel restricted or limited by a hearing problem?
- Do you have difficulty hearing when visiting friends, relatives or neighbours?
- Do you have trouble hearing in the movies or in the theatre?
- Does a hearing problem cause you to argue with family members?
- Do you have trouble hearing the TV or radio at levels that are loud enough for others?
- Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits your personal or social life?
- Do you have trouble hearing family or friends when you are together in a restaurant?
According to NIDCD, if you answered yes to three or more, you may want to see an ENT doctor or an audiologist for a hearing evaluation. The checklist is not a diagnosis; it helps you decide whether to get tested.
After a result that says 'get checked'
According to ASHA, a screening result like this is a reason for a full hearing evaluation. Preparing for a hearing test has a checklist of what to note and bring.
Sudden hearing loss is not a case for an online check. A sudden drop in hearing calls for a doctor the same day; sudden hearing loss explains why, with its sources.
A normal result, but listening is still hard
According to the WHO, a check like this is not a formal hearing test, and according to ASHA a screening can miss milder hearing loss. So if everyday listening stays difficult, it is still worth getting tested after a normal result. Hearing but not understanding looks at one common pattern.
Key takeaways
- An online hearing test is a screening, not a diagnosis.
- According to the WHO, a hearWHO score below 50 is a reason for a professional test.
- According to ASHA, a 'refer' result leads to a full evaluation.
- If listening stays hard after a normal result, get tested anyway.
- Sudden hearing loss: see a doctor the same day.
Questions and answers
Are online hearing tests reliable?
They can flag that you should get tested. According to ASHA, the tools vary and depend on calibration, and according to the WHO they do not replace a professional test.
What does a hearWHO score below 50 mean?
According to the WHO, there is probably some hearing loss, and a test with a professional is the next step.
My online result was normal but I still struggle to hear. What now?
Get tested anyway. A screening is not a full test, and milder hearing loss can be missed (ASHA).
Can an online test tell me the degree of my hearing loss?
No. According to the WHO, type and degree are established by a professional test, such as pure-tone audiometry.
How often should I repeat the hearWHO check?
According to the WHO, usually once a year, or whenever you notice a change.
Sources and further reading
This page draws on the following sources.
Read next
This information is general and does not replace an examination by a qualified professional.