Hearing Tests in Edmonton

What to expect

A hearing test in Edmonton is the first step to hearing clearly again. Our Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner checks your ears, measures your hearing across the full range of sounds, and walks you through exactly what your results mean. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes, there is no pain, and no referral is needed.

Our hearing tests are done by Registered Hearing Aid Practitioners, regulated in Alberta by the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta (CHAPA). Learn more about hearing health from Speech-Language and Audiology Canada.

Signs it is time for a hearing test

• You turn the TV up louder than everyone else likes
• You ask people to repeat themselves, or struggle in busy restaurants
• You hear ringing or buzzing in your ears
• You work, or used to work, somewhere loud
• You are over 50 and have not had your hearing checked in a few years

You do not need a problem to come in. Plenty of people book a test just to have a baseline on file. See the early signs of hearing loss if you are not sure.

What happens at your hearing test

1. 1 A short conversation. We ask when you first noticed a change, where you struggle most, and about noise at work, medications, ringing and dizziness.
2. 2 A look in your ears. Your practitioner checks your ear canals and eardrums with an otoscope. It takes about thirty seconds per ear.
3. 3 A middle ear check. A soft probe at the opening of your ear makes a gentle pressure change for a few seconds to see how well your eardrum moves.
4. 4 Tones in the sound booth. You wear headphones and press a button each time you hear a beep. This finds the softest sound you can hear at each pitch.
5. 5 Speech testing. You repeat back words so we can see how clearly you understand speech, not just whether you hear it.
6. 6 Your results, explained. We go through your audiogram with you right away and talk about what it means for your day to day life.

Every visit follows the same steps, so you always know what comes next.

Hearing test, hearing exam or audiogram?

They all describe the same visit. People call it a hearing test, a hearing exam, a hearing assessment, an auditory test or audiometry. Your audiogram is the chart of results your practitioner walks you through at the end.

A hearing screening is different. It is a quick check that flags a possible problem, while a full hearing test shows what kind of hearing loss you have and how much. Here is more on hearing screening vs a full hearing test.

How long it takes and how to get ready

Plan for about 30 to 45 minutes. There is nothing special to do beforehand. If you have extended health benefits, bring your benefits card. If you are covered through AADL, Veterans Affairs, NIHB or WCB, bring any paperwork or authorization numbers you have.

It also helps to think about where you notice trouble hearing, like the phone, the TV or family dinners. That tells us how your hearing affects your life, not just what the numbers say. Here is what to expect at a hearing test in more detail.

Who does your test

Every hearing test is done by a registered hearing care professional, the same person who explains your results and answers your questions. Meet them on our hearing aid practitioners page.

Where to get a hearing test in Edmonton and Calgary

In Edmonton, book at 97 North (13514 97 St NW, open Saturdays) or East (4243 118 Ave NW in Beverly). In Calgary, our Hunterhorn Plaza clinic at 6564 4 St NE takes walk ins, or call the clinic to book ahead. Here is more on getting a hearing test in Calgary. If getting out is hard, our mobile team brings the same test to homes and care residences across the Edmonton area.

Hearing test cost and coverage

Hearing tests are free for adults 65 and over at our Edmonton clinics, 97 North and East. See our free hearing test page. If you are under 65, or booking in Calgary, call the clinic for current pricing. Coverage depends on your plan. Ask us or your insurer what yours includes.

If the test leads to hearing aids, we help with the paperwork for AADL, Veterans Affairs, NIHB and WCB Alberta claims.

After your test

If your hearing is in the normal range, you leave with a baseline on file and a suggestion for when to check again. If we find a hearing loss, we explain the type and how much, then walk you through your options. That might be hearing aids, a referral to your doctor, or simply keeping an eye on it. There is never any pressure to decide on the spot.