Signs it is time for a hearing test
Hearing loss often creeps in. Partners notice the TV volume first. You notice cafés and family dinners feel harder than quiet one-to-one chats.
A HearMed clinic hearing test is free, takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and adults do not need a GP referral. We see people aged 12 and over in clinic.
Reviewed by Rose Multaney and Rauri Keogh, HearMed audiologists · Updated September 2026
Everyday clues worth acting on
You ask people to repeat themselves more than you used to. Phone calls feel thin. Soft voices in the next room disappear.
Group noise is the classic early fail: you hear that people are talking, but not the words. That pattern is worth testing even if “quiet rooms feel fine”.
- TV or radio louder than others prefer
- Trouble hearing the doorbell, kettle, or indicators
- Ringing or buzzing that bothers you (tinnitus)
- One ear clearly worse than the other
What the free test covers
We take a history, look in the ears, and run pure-tone audiometry in a controlled booth or quiet clinic room. If wax is blocking, we discuss clearing it so the result is honest.
You leave with a clear explanation of your audiogram in plain English, not a hard sell. If aids are appropriate, you get options and a written quote.
When to go sooner
Sudden hearing loss in one ear, severe pain, discharge, or facial weakness needs urgent medical care, not a routine booking page.
For gradual change, book a clinic near you: Tullamore, Portlaoise, Portumna, or the Newbridge, Templemore and Athenry pharmacy days.
Tullamore, Portlaoise and Portumna
Book a free hearing test
Call the local number, send a WhatsApp, or leave your number. No referral.