12 percent of people in Germany no longer hear well—but only 37 percent of them wear hearing aids to compensate for their hearing loss. Yet treating hearing loss can prevent serious consequences, such as social isolation and secondary health conditions associated with untreated hearing loss. What keeps many people from visiting a hearing care professional—despite the immense benefits of hearing aids—is uncertainty about what happens there and the fear of admitting they have hearing loss. Yet this first step toward a significantly better quality of life is quite simple and begins with a hearing test. But what exactly happens during a hearing test? How often should you have your hearing tested—even if you think you hear well? And what if the hearing care professional detects hearing loss? What benefits do hearing aids offer in that case? And how much do they cost?

We’re introducing four new videos that answer the most important questions about hearing tests—short, dynamic, and to the point.

The star of the clips is a master hearing aid specialist from Mainz, who not only answers questions about hearing tests but also explains the key benefits of hearing aids and their costs. He takes viewers along to a hearing test and encourages them to have their hearing checked regularly.

In the video, Karsten Krone takes his first hearing test—a procedure experts refer to as audiometry. In a soundproof booth, the hearing care professional thoroughly examines his hearing. First, the ears are examined with an otoscope, which allows the professional to determine whether the outer ear canal is clear all the way to the eardrum. This is followed by the so-called pure-tone test—a procedure in which the client listens to a series of tones through headphones in each ear and signals with a hand gesture whether and when they hear them. The testing device, known as an audiometer, plays tones of varying pitches at increasing volumes, separately to the left and right ears. The test subject raises a hand to signal to the hearing care professional when they hear a tone. In the next test, the client hears several simple, monosyllabic words. The hearing care professional uses this to test speech comprehension. This speech test provides insight into whether the auditory nerve is functioning, and whether the ear hears spoken words, transmits them to the brain, and where they are decoded and understood.

The hearing care professional shows the test results to the client in the form of a hearing curve and explains the points we see on the audiogram: They indicate the hearing threshold—that is, the volume at which the test subject first heard the sounds. In this case, the result is as follows: Hearing ability averages 15 dB in both ears. This means Krone has normal hearing, which applies to all test results between zero and 30 dB.

If a person’s hearing loss exceeds 30 dB, they are considered hard of hearing and are eligible for a hearing aid. In this case, a hearing care professional is the expert of choice to guide clients toward the hearing aid that is best suited for them. In doing so, they consider not only the audiological needs—which they know well from the hearing test—but also ask their clients about their personal habits and individual needs, offering them various hearing aid models to try out. They oversee the important process of getting used to the hearing aids, adjust them step by step to meet individual needs, and remain the primary point of contact should hearing ability change over time.

The positive impact of hearing aids is a significant and immediate improvement in quality of life. Activities with family and friends, talking on the phone, watching TV, listening to music, driving a car, and riding a bike—despite hearing loss, it is once again possible to navigate everyday situations. Being able to fully participate in conversations again is also a huge relief for those around you. This is because untreated hearing problems strain interpersonal relationships and often lead to professional disadvantages and social isolation. In addition, hearing aids help prevent a wide range of health consequences and risks that can result from untreated hearing loss. According to recent studies, depression, an increased risk of falls in older adults, and the risk of cognitive decline may be linked to untreated hearing loss. Conversely, scientific studies suggest that hearing aids can maintain and enhance cognitive function and vitality.

The brief hearing test “takes” only a few minutes of your time. For people diagnosed with hearing loss, the hearing care professional has good news: The fixed reimbursement amount from health insurance companies for hearing aids was increased in 2013. As a result, the technical requirements for systems covered without copayments have also risen significantly. This makes it possible to receive digital hearing aids—at no out-of-pocket cost—that best compensate for individual hearing loss and offer modern technical features, such as noise and feedback suppression and manual volume control. Out-of-pocket copayments only apply if customers want additional features beyond these—such as enhanced listening comfort, an exclusive design, or Bluetooth connectivity.

Hearing loss rarely happens overnight. Most of the time, hearing ability changes gradually and goes unnoticed because you slowly get used to the new normal. Often, it’s partners, children, or friends who notice that the TV is getting louder and louder or that you’re having trouble following a conversation. By the time you yourself notice the first limitations in your daily life, experts say it’s already far too late for a hearing test. That’s because the brain has already adapted to the hearing loss. Your hearing forgets what it’s like to hear well. That’s why it’s recommended to have your hearing tested regularly, even without a specific reason. The sooner hearing loss is addressed, the fewer disadvantages there are for the person affected and the greater the personal benefits. Conversely, the longer hearing loss is ignored, the harder it becomes to adjust to hearing with a hearing aid. There is also a risk that mild hearing loss will worsen if left untreated. The professional recommendation is therefore to have a hearing test at least every two years.

Has it been more than two years since your last hearing test? Or have you never had your hearing tested? Here you can find a hearing care professional near you who will test your hearing for free.