What Does a Hearing Test Show, and How Often Should You Get One?

A hearing test, or audiogram, shows the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches, from low to high, in each ear. There’s no single schedule that fits every adult: the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says how often you’re checked depends on things like your age, your health and your history of noise exposure. If you spend time around loud noise, a test gives you a baseline, so you can see whether your hearing protection is doing its job over the years.

Quick answer

• What it shows: your hearing levels at pitches from about 500 Hz up to 6,000 or 8,000 Hz, ear by ear.
• No pass or fail: NIOSH calls an audiogram a written record of your hearing levels.
• How often: ASHA says there’s no agreed schedule for adults; noise exposure is one reason to check more often.
• Why it matters: a CDC study found nearly 1 in 4 adults who rated their hearing excellent or good already showed signs of noise damage on testing.
• Next step: keep a copy of your results, and protect your ears between tests.

What is an audiogram?

An audiogram is a chart of your hearing. You listen to tones at different pitches (frequencies) and signal each time you hear one, and the tester finds the quietest level you can pick up at each pitch.

NIOSH’s fact sheet on hearing tests puts it nicely: “there’s no pass or fail.” It’s a record of where your hearing is today. Test frequencies usually run from 500 Hz up to 6,000 or 8,000 Hz (NIOSH, Inquiring Ears Want to Know).

Results are plotted in decibels of hearing level. Lower numbers mean you heard softer sounds, which is good news.

How do you read the numbers on a hearing test?

The NIOSH fact sheet groups hearing levels into these ranges:

Your audiologist will explain your own chart, since the shape of the line across all the pitches matters as much as any single number.

What does noise damage look like on an audiogram?

Often it shows up as a “notch,” a dip in the high pitches where hearing is worse than at the pitches on either side. In NIOSH workplace evaluations, notches between 3,000 and 6,000 Hz are described as possibly showing the early stages of noise-induced hearing loss, and a notch at 4,000 Hz is generally accepted as a sign of occupational hearing loss (NIOSH HETA 2006-0212-3035).

Here’s the tricky part. A notch can appear while your hearing still feels fine. In a CDC study of U.S. adults, nearly 1 in 4 (24%) had audiometric notches, including 23.5% of people who said their hearing was excellent or good. About 1 in 5 adults who reported no loud noise at work had a notch too, a reminder that noise away from work counts (CDC MMWR, Vital Signs: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Adults).

That’s the best argument for a test. You can’t always feel early noise damage, but a chart can show it.

How often should you get your hearing tested?

ASHA says there is “no one agreed-upon hearing screening schedule for adults.” Instead, it points to factors like age, other health conditions, risk factors such as a history of noise exposure, and access to routine screening (ASHA, Adult Hearing Screening).

A few practical cues for when to book one:

• You’ve noticed a change. The NIDCD’s advice is simple: have your hearing tested if you think you might have hearing loss.
• You’re around loud noise often. Shooting, riding, playing in a band, power tools or a loud job all count as noise exposure.
• Your job includes a hearing program. For workers exposed at or above an 8-hour average of 85 dB, the federal noise rule requires a new audiogram at least once a year after the baseline (29 CFR 1910.95).
• Your doctor suggests it. The CDC study encourages primary care providers to recommend or provide hearing tests when indicated.

What’s the difference between a screening and a full hearing evaluation?

A screening is a quick check. In ASHA’s adult protocol, you pass if you respond to tones at 25 dB HL at 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 Hz in both ears. Missing any of those means you’re referred for a full audiologic evaluation.

The full evaluation is done by an audiologist and covers your hearing in much more detail. If a screening flags something, that’s your cue to book one, not a reason to worry.

Should you avoid loud noise before a hearing test?

It’s a good idea. The NIDCD explains that loud noise can cause a temporary hearing loss that fades 16 to 48 hours later (NIDCD, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss). A test taken the morning after a concert or a day at the range may not show your usual hearing.

Workplace programs build this in. The federal rule says a baseline audiogram must follow at least 14 hours without workplace noise, and hearing protectors can stand in for that quiet time. Ask whoever is testing you whether they’d like you to keep things quiet beforehand.

What should you do with your results?

NIOSH suggests keeping a copy of your audiogram in a safe place and sharing it with your primary care doctor. If you’re in a workplace hearing program, NIOSH suggests giving a copy to the program’s administrator too. Each new test then has something to be compared with.

The federal rule uses that comparison at work: a change averaging 10 dB or more at 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Hz in either ear, relative to the baseline, is called a standard threshold shift.

Then protect what you have. The same NIOSH fact sheet tells readers to keep hearing protectors on hand and use them on and off the job.

How does Big Ear help you protect your hearing between tests?

A good audiogram is something worth keeping. We hand-build custom hearing protection in the USA from impressions of your ears, so it fits comfortably enough to wear every time the noise starts.

• The One uses interchangeable 9, 15, 20, 25 or 30 dB filters, with an NRR of 25 dB with one filter installed. We suggest 25 or 30 dB for firearms, motorcycles and around aircraft, and 9–20 dB for quieter settings. Kits are $224.95 (Standard), $299.95 (Select, two filter sets) and $574.95 (Premium, all five).
• Full Stop Super-Soft is a solid earplug in platinum-cure silicone (Shore A 25), hypoallergenic and antibacterial, with an NRR of 32 dB, for $168.95.
• Guardian Vanquisher is our NRR 37 dB solid plug (Shore A 45, semi-soft) for very loud work, at $179.95.

If you’d rather have an audiologist take your impressions while you’re there for a test, that works too. Their fee (typically $80–100) is billed by them, and we charge nothing extra. You can look for one on our find a provider page. We lead with the free Home Impression Kit, though, because it’s the easiest way to get fitted: it arrives in 3 to 5 business days, takes about 15 to 20 minutes with a helper and a guided video, and return postage is paid.

We build your pair in 40 business days from the day your impressions reach our lab. Every pair has a 30-Day Fit Warranty and a 1-year manufacturer defect warranty against manufacturing defects, and order shipping is $10. Your impressions stay on file for up to ten years.

Frequently asked questions

Does a hearing test hurt?

A standard audiogram just asks you to listen for tones and respond. If you have ear pain or discomfort for any reason, tell the tester and see a doctor.

Can I get a hearing test if my hearing seems fine?

Yes. The CDC study found signs of noise damage in many adults who rated their hearing excellent or good, so a baseline can be useful even when nothing feels wrong.

What if my test shows a notch?

Talk it through with your audiologist. NIOSH notes a notch in someone with normal hearing may indicate early hearing loss, and some researchers question whether a 6,000 Hz notch alone is a reliable marker. Either way, it’s a good reason to protect your ears consistently.

Should I see someone about ringing in my ears?

Yes, if it’s new or getting worse, or comes with pain or a sudden change in hearing. Please see a doctor or audiologist.

Keep your next audiogram looking good

A hearing test tells you where you stand, and the right protection helps keep you there. Start with the free Home Impression Kit, try Find my pair, or call us at (719) 271-4528. For a refresher on everyday noise levels, our friendly guide to decibels is a good next read.

Sources

• ASHA. Adult Hearing Screening (Practice Portal).
• CDC. Vital Signs: Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Adults, United States 2011–2012. MMWR 2017;66(5):139–144.
• NIOSH. Inquiring Ears Want to Know: A Fact Sheet About Your Hearing Test, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-102 (November 2007).
• NIOSH. Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA #2006-0212-3035, Kenton County Animal Shelter, Covington, Kentucky (February 2007).
• NIDCD. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (updated April 16, 2025).
• eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure.