The first step in addressing possible hearing loss in yourself or a loved one is taking a hearing assessment.

The National Hearing Test offers an independent hearing screening you can take from the comfort of your home. This test was developed and validated with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This scientifically validated screening – free for AARP members – remains confidential and can help you take the next steps toward your hearing health.

Free For AARP Members

36 million Americans suffer from hearing loss

Nearly half have never been tested.

This is a first-of-its-kind screening test in the United States. The goal of the National Hearing Test is to give you a simple, 10-minute test that can help you understand your hearing status and decide whether you should seek a full-scale evaluation of your hearing.

You can take the test using your telephone, or you can take it with a computer or mobile device with headphones ‐‐ and it’s free for AARP Members.

Your test results are completely confidential and will not be shared with any provider of hearing products or services.

Take the Test

Free For AARP Members

Signs you might have a hearing problem

Turning up the volume?

You find yourself overcompensating by increasing the volume on your TV or other devices.

Having trouble listening or speaking?

You have difficulty with conversations in noisy places. Or others are often telling you to speak lower..

Frequently exposed to loud noise?

Excessive noise at work or at home, or even loud music on earbuds, can cause hearing loss.

About the National Hearing Test

About NHT

Take the Test

Free For AARP Members

The National Hearing Test can be the first step on your path to taking charge of your hearing health. Approximately 36 million Americans have significant hearing loss, yet most have never had their hearing tested. Untreated hearing loss can lead to a serious decline in your quality of life, causing social isolation and problems at work.

There are two ways to take the National Hearing Test:

Use your landline telephone (or cell phone) to take the test by phone and hear your results at the end of the test.
Use a computer or mobile device with attached headphones or earbuds to take the test online and see your results on your screen.

The test can be taken in about 10 minutes (5 minutes per ear). You simply listen to three-digit sequences, and use a keypad to enter what you heard. If you are doing well, the test becomes more difficult by making it harder to hear the digits. If you are making errors, the test gets easier. Immediately after the test, you are given the results for each ear. This can help you decide whether you should see an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation.

The test is free for AARP members to take once a year. When you start the test, you’ll be asked to verify your membership to receive an access code to continue. For non-members, the cost is $8.

The National Hearing Test is very effective at detecting the most common forms of hearing loss, those that are age-related and those that result from exposure to loud noises. Click here for information on less common hearing problems that require a different approach.

Even if you pass this type of hearing test, you may want to seek professional care if you often ask people to repeat things or have difficulty following conversations in noisy places. Research shows that people with these problems are likely to have significant hearing loss.

To learn more about the test, go to Frequently Asked Questions. To read about the research behind the National Hearing Test, go to For Audiologists. To start the test, complete a questionnaire.