Scans & Tests · Hearing loss

Scans and tests your GP or consultant may recommend for Hearing loss

This is information about which scans and tests may be used to assess Hearing loss, and what each one is: not a recommendation. Your clinician decides which scan or test, if any, you need. Prices below are typical UK private ranges; enter your postcode to see the NHS wait near you.

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Examination first

The ear is examined with an otoscope.

Audiometry

The main hearing test, with tones played through headphones. It is a test, not a scan.

Pure-tone audiometry measures the quietest sounds you can hear across a range of pitches, played through headphones. It is a test rather than an imaging scan.

How long: Usually 20 to 40 minutes.

Good for: Measuring the type and degree of hearing loss.

Privately: Private hearing tests are widely available on the high street.

Tympanometry

Checks the eardrum and middle ear using air pressure. It is a test, not a scan.

Tympanometry checks how the eardrum and middle ear respond to changes in air pressure, using a soft probe in the ear. It is a test rather than an imaging scan.

How long: A few minutes.

Good for: Finding middle-ear problems such as fluid behind the eardrum or a perforation.

MRI

Used only if a specific cause is suspected, such as a growth affecting one ear.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to build detailed pictures of soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, cartilage, discs and the brain. It uses no radiation.

How long: Usually 15 to 45 minutes, lying still inside a tunnel-shaped scanner.

Good for: Soft-tissue and joint detail: ligament and cartilage injuries, the spine and discs, and the brain.

Typical UK private cost: £300 to £1145. Usually bookable within days.

Sources: NHS. [1] (opens in new tab)

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Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. NHS waits are from DM01 diagnostics data. Nothing here is medical advice; your clinician decides which scan, if any, you need.

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