What Your Free Hearing Test Includes
Your visit covers quick, comfortable checks that map your hearing from every angle. The exact tests depend on your age and hearing history. Here is what most adults can expect.
| Test | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Pure-tone testing | The softest sounds you can hear across low and high pitches |
| Bone-conduction testing | Whether a block in the outer or middle ear plays a part |
| Speech testing | The lowest volume where you can recognize words |
| Otoscopy | The health of your ear canal and eardrum |
| Tympanometry | How well your middle ear and eardrum move |
Together, these results show the degree and type of any hearing change.
Pure-tone Air and Bone Conduction Testing
Pure-tone testing finds the quietest tones you can hear at each pitch. You wear soft headphones and respond to gentle beeps. Bone-conduction testing uses a small headband instead. Together they reveal where the change begins. That points to one of the two main types of hearing loss.
Speech Testing
Speech testing checks how well you understand words, not just detect them. We find the softest level where you can repeat words back. This step confirms your pure-tone results and reflects real conversations.
Ear Health Checks
Two quick checks round out the visit. Otoscopy lets your provider look inside your ear canal at the eardrum. Tympanometry measures how your eardrum moves, which flags wax, fluid, or pressure. If wax is blocking the canal, your provider may clear it first, since a blocked ear skews every result after it. Our team offers professional earwax removal for exactly this.
Some visits also add an otoacoustic emissions screening, a fast check of inner-ear function. A small probe in your ear plays soft sounds, and healthy hair cells in your cochlea answer with a faint echo of their own. The probe records that echo. When it is weak or missing, it can point to hearing loss that starts in the inner ear.
What to Expect at Your Sioux Falls Appointment
Most appointments run about 30 to 40 minutes for the testing itself. Plan for about 90 minutes total, so we can review results and answer questions. The visit follows the same order every time:
- A conversation first. Your provider asks about your health history, any noise exposure, and the places you struggle to hear.
- A look in your ears. An otoscope shows your ear canal and eardrum, and any wax that needs clearing comes out before testing.
- Testing in a sound booth. Pure-tone, bone-conduction, and speech tests map what you hear at each pitch and volume.
- Ear function checks. Tympanometry, plus an otoacoustic emissions screening when your provider wants a closer look at the inner ear.
- Your results, explained. You see your audiogram and talk through what it means before you leave.
A few simple steps help you get the most from your visit:
- Bring a list of your current medications and supplements.
- Invite a family member or friend, since a second set of ears helps.
- Note any concerns about noise exposure, ringing, or balance.
- Write down the questions you want to ask your provider.
Coming prepared makes your results clearer and your visit calmer.
What Happens After Your Free Hearing Test
Right after testing, your provider walks you through the results together. You then see a simple chart of your hearing called an audiogram. If your hearing is healthy, we tell you that and send you home. When a hearing aid would help, we talk through options that fit your life. Here is what you can count on after your test:
- A clear explanation of your audiogram in everyday words.
- Honest guidance, even when the answer is that you hear fine.
- Time to weigh your options at home before deciding.
- A fitting programmed to your results, if you choose hearing aids.
If you go ahead, the fitting is where your test results turn into sound. Your provider programs the hearing aids to your audiogram, then checks the result with live speech mapping, which measures what reaches your eardrum. Follow-up visits fine-tune the settings as your brain gets used to hearing more. You can read more about how a hearing aid fitting works.
Every next step stays your call.
Why Choose Stanford Hearing for Your Free Hearing Test
For over 20 years, our locally owned clinic has served Sioux Falls and Buffalo, MN. Dr. Jade Husby, a Doctor of Audiology, leads our experienced hearing care team. We stay brand-neutral, so your recommendation fits your ears and your life. Our providers draw on five premium brands rather than a single label. Here is what comes with choosing us for your free hearing test:
- A free consultation and free hearing test, with no obligation.
- Every purchase includes a 10-day trial so you can wear your hearing aids in real life before you decide, and the Phonak Virto trial is 30 days. If they are not right for you, return them inside your trial window for a full refund.
- Five premium brands, matched to your ears and your lifestyle.
- Options for every budget, with several technology levels in each brand.
- A price match guarantee on comparable devices from nearby clinics.
- 12 months no-interest financing for qualifying patients, subject to credit approval.
- In-network insurance, including Medicare Advantage, with help to verify your hearing benefits before your appointment.
- In-person care at two local offices, including our Sioux Falls hearing center.
You can meet our Sioux Falls hearing care team before your visit. Ready to hear better with confidence? Schedule a free consultation and we will handle the rest.
Free Hearing Test Sioux Falls: Common Questions
Is the Hearing Test Free in Sioux Falls?
Yes. At Stanford Hearing, your consultation and first hearing test cost nothing, and you owe nothing afterward. A diagnostic evaluation, when you need one, is a separate appointment.
What Is the Difference Between a Hearing Test and a Hearing Evaluation?
A hearing test answers whether you have hearing loss and how much. The diagnostic evaluation goes further to find the type and likely cause, using a fuller set of tests and your medical history. Stanford Hearing offers both as separate appointments. The free test comes first, and a diagnostic evaluation follows when your results or history call for one. It is usually billed to insurance, so we verify your benefits before you book.
Do I Need a Referral for a Hearing Test?
You do not need a referral to book with Stanford Hearing. Just call us or request an appointment online. If your plan requires a referral for coverage, we help you arrange it first.
How Often Should Adults Get a Hearing Test?
Most adults benefit from a hearing check every year, especially after age 60. Stanford Hearing recommends a baseline test even if your hearing feels fine. That lets us track changes over time. Regular testing helps us catch small shifts early, while they are easiest to manage.
Can Stanford Hearing Test Me If I Already Wear Hearing Aids?
Yes. Bring your current hearing aids along, and we will check how well they still fit. At Stanford Hearing, our team reviews any pair and advises honest next steps. If they no longer match your needs, we explore adjustments or newer options.