Signs You Need a Hearing Test This Summer
Summer has a way of putting our hearing to the test. Busy airports, bustling restaurants, family gatherings and long catch-ups with friends all ask a lot of our ears - and they’re often the moments we first notice something has changed with our hearing. If you’ve found yourself asking people to repeat themselves over dinner or struggling to follow a conversation in a crowded room, it may be a sign that it’s time for a hearing test.
Hearing changes usually happen gradually, so they’re easy to miss or explain away. Below are the most common warning signs to look out for, how often you should have your hearing checked, and the options available to you - including what’s free and what isn’t.
At Optical Gallery, we regularly help patients across Chessington, Cheam and Twickenham with their hearing. Our expert audiologists provide detailed hearing assessments for anyone who has noticed changes in their hearing or simply wants a thorough check-up.
What are the signs you need a hearing test?
Most age-related hearing loss develops slowly over the years, which is why so many people don’t realise it’s happening. Rather than “going deaf,” it usually shows up as small, everyday frustrations. You may benefit from a hearing test if you:
- Frequently ask people to repeat themselves
- Struggle to follow conversations in noisy places like restaurants or parties
- Turn the television or radio up louder than others would like
- Find telephone calls harder to follow than they used to be
- Feel unusually tired after social situations, because you’re concentrating hard to keep up
- Find it difficult to tell where sounds are coming from
- Have a sense that people are mumbling, even when they’re not
If a few of these sound familiar - or if a family member has gently pointed one out - it’s worth getting your hearing checked. Spotting changes early makes them far easier to manage.
Is it hearing loss, or just ear wax?
Not every change in your hearing is permanent. Sometimes the cause is something as simple and treatable as a build-up of ear wax, which can leave your ears feeling blocked, muffled or uncomfortable. This can be particularly noticeable in summer - changes in air pressure during flights can make blocked ears feel worse.
A professional hearing assessment will identify whether your symptoms are down to wax, which can often be removed quickly, or whether there’s an underlying hearing change worth addressing. Either way, you’ll come away with a clear answer rather than guesswork.
We provide ear wax removal and hearing tests at all three of our practices – Twickenham, Cheam and Chessington.
How often should you have a hearing test?
As a general guide, adults should consider having their hearing checked every few years, and more often once they pass the age of 60, when age-related hearing changes become more common. If you already have hearing aids or a known hearing loss, your audiologist will usually recommend a regular review schedule.
That said, you don’t need to wait for a milestone birthday. If you’ve noticed any of the signs above, the best time to get checked is now - regardless of when your last test was.
Can you test your hearing at home?
Online hearing checks and smartphone apps have become popular, and they can be a useful first step. A quick online check can give you a rough indication of whether you might have a hearing loss and whether it’s worth booking a proper assessment.
However, it’s important to understand their limits. A home or phone-based check is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It can’t measure the type or degree of hearing loss accurately, and it can’t identify underlying causes such as wax or ear conditions. For that, you need a full hearing assessment carried out by a professional with the right equipment. Think of an online check as a prompt to take the next step, rather than the final word.
Is a hearing test free? Your NHS and private options
This is one of the most common questions - and the honest answer is that it depends on which route you take.
On the NHS
You can get a free hearing test and treatment on the NHS. In most cases, your GP will refer you to a hearing specialist (an audiologist), although some areas now allow you to refer yourself directly - it’s worth checking what applies where you live. If a test shows you need hearing aids, the NHS provides them free of charge. The main trade-off is time: NHS referrals can involve a wait of several weeks to be seen.
Privately
Because of those waiting times, many people choose to be seen privately, which is usually much quicker. Lots of high-street chains and independent clinics (like Optical Gallery) offer hearing tests, and these are often affordable, with no obligation to buy anything afterwards. A private assessment can be a fast, straightforward way to get clarity if you’d rather not wait.
At The Optical Gallery, we offer professional hearing assessments in a friendly, unhurried setting, so you can understand your hearing and your options without pressure.
Booking a hearing test this summer
If any of the signs in this article sounded familiar, there’s no need to put it off. A hearing test is quick, comfortable and - whether the news is reassuring or the start of a simple plan to hear better - it puts you back in control of your hearing health, just in time to enjoy everything summer has to offer.
Our experienced hearing specialists are here to help, whether you’d like a routine check, you’re worried about a change in your hearing, or you think ear wax may be the culprit.
At Optical Gallery, we regularly help patients across Chessington, Cheam and Twickenham with their hearing. Our expert audiologists provide detailed hearing assessments for anyone who has noticed changes in their hearing or simply wants a thorough check-up.
To book an appointment directly, book a hearing test here.
