Your First Audiology Appointment

Most first-time audiology appointments last between 60 and 90 minutes. This gives your audiologist time to review your history, perform a thorough evaluation, and discuss the results with you. Follow-up visits are typically shorter — around 30 to 45 minutes — unless a hearing aid fitting is involved.

In most cases, no — you can book directly with an audiologist. Medicare Part B lets you see one once every 12 months without a doctor's order for certain diagnostic hearing tests. Two limits worth knowing: that exception does not cover tests for dizziness or balance problems, and it does not cover exams for prescribing or fitting hearing aids. Legislation to remove the order requirement altogether — and to cover audiologist-provided treatment, not just diagnostics — is pending as the Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 2757 and S. 1996). As of July 2026 both remain in committee without a hearing or vote, though they are still gathering cosponsors. Be careful with older write-ups: the previous versions of this bill expired when the last Congress ended in January 2025, and some current documents still quote those dead bill numbers. Private plans may still require a referral for coverage, so check with your insurer. If a medical cause is suspected, your doctor may send you to an ENT first.

Roughly $50 to $300 out of pocket, with hospital-based audiology departments usually at the higher end because they add a facility fee on top of the tests. Many retail hearing centres offer a free basic screening, which is a different and much thinner thing than a full diagnostic evaluation. If you have Medicare, the arithmetic is friendlier than the sticker suggests: Part B covers diagnostic hearing exams, you pay 20% after the $283 deductible (2026), and because Medicare's allowed amount for the core comprehensive test is only about $36, your share of that test is a few dollars rather than a slice of a large bill. Always call ahead and ask what the visit includes and what they will bill — the range above is wide because practices differ enormously in what they bundle.

There is no official schedule, and you will see confident-sounding intervals online that no professional body actually publishes. ASHA states plainly that there is no one agreed-upon hearing screening schedule for adults, and the US Preventive Services Task Force found the evidence insufficient to recommend routine screening of adults 50 and over who have no symptoms. What genuinely warrants a test: noticing a change, struggling to follow speech in noise, new tinnitus, a difference between your ears, or sudden hearing loss (which is urgent, not routine). If you work in noise, OSHA requires your employer to provide annual audiograms. If you take ototoxic medication, ask about monitoring. And a baseline test while things feel fine is still worthwhile, because it gives every later test something to compare against.

An audiologist (Au.D.) specializes in evaluating and treating hearing and balance disorders, including fitting hearing aids. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) is a medical doctor who treats diseases and conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat — including infections, tumors, and structural issues. If your hearing loss has a medical cause, you may need both. Your audiologist can refer you to an ENT if needed.

Absolutely — and we'd actually encourage it! Bringing a family member or close friend can be really helpful. They can provide insight into how your hearing affects daily communication, help you remember what the audiologist discusses, and serve as a familiar voice during speech recognition testing. Many audiologists welcome a companion.

You can buy OTC hearing aids without a prescription, appointment, or hearing test — the FDA created the category for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Even so, a professional evaluation is a smart first step. An audiologist can rule out treatable causes like earwax buildup or infection, confirm your hearing loss actually falls in the mild-to-moderate range, and give you an honest read on whether an OTC device will meet your needs or whether prescription care would serve you better.