Say what? Free do-it-yourself hearing test available by phone
If you’re a little bit worried about your hearing – but not yet ready to see a doctor – you can take a free screening test over the phone, courtesy of the group National Hearing Test. The test typically costs $8, but it is being offered free for all of May, which is Better Hearing and Speech Month. It takes about 10 minutes, and should be done over a landline, not a cellphone. (The sound quality of cell phones varies so much it could interfere with accurate results.)
The test gives a quick, preliminary read on functional hearing, which is the term used to describe the ability to understand speech despite background noise.