You can get your hearing tested for free at several places, including retail hearing aid stores, university audiology clinics, community health events run by organizations like the Lions Club, and through certain government programs. The easiest option for most people is walking into a big-box retailer like Costco or Sam’s Club, where complimentary screenings take about 15 minutes. But if you need a more thorough evaluation, other options may serve you better depending on your age, income, and insurance status.
Retail Stores and Hearing Aid Providers
The fastest way to get a free hearing screening is at a retail location that sells hearing aids. Costco, Sam’s Club, Beltone, Miracle-Ear, and most independent hearing aid dispensers offer no-cost screenings to attract potential customers. These screenings typically involve listening to tones through headphones in a quiet booth and take 15 to 30 minutes. You’ll walk out with a basic picture of whether your hearing falls in the normal range or shows signs of loss.
The trade-off is that these screenings are designed to identify people who might buy hearing aids. They’re useful as a first step, but they’re not the same as a full diagnostic evaluation performed by a licensed audiologist. If the screening flags a problem, you’ll still want a comprehensive exam to determine the type and cause of your hearing loss.
University Audiology Clinics
Many universities with audiology training programs offer free or very low-cost hearing evaluations to the public. Graduate students perform the tests under the supervision of licensed audiologists, so the quality of care is high. Fresno State, for example, provides free two-hour hearing evaluations that assess both the type and severity of any hearing loss. These are far more thorough than a retail screening.
The catch is availability. University clinics typically only offer evaluations during fall and spring semesters, not over the summer. Slots fill up on a first-come, first-served basis, so you may need to call early in the semester to get an appointment. Search for “university audiology clinic” plus your city or state to find programs near you. Community colleges with audiology assistant programs sometimes offer similar services.
Nonprofit and Community Programs
Several nonprofit organizations run free hearing screenings, especially for people with limited income or no insurance. Lions Clubs International is one of the most active, conducting screening programs for both children and adults in communities across the country. They also help provide and repair hearing aids for people who can’t afford them. Local chapters organize screening events at community centers, churches, and health fairs throughout the year.
The AUDIENT program, created by the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing, connects income-qualified individuals with reduced-cost hearing care and hearing aids nationwide. Hear Now is another national nonprofit that assists people with limited financial resources who permanently reside in the United States. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association maintains a list of these funding resources on its website, which can help you find programs in your area.
Community health fairs are another overlooked option. Hospitals, civic organizations, and local health departments frequently sponsor events that include free hearing screenings alongside blood pressure checks and other basic health services. These tend to cluster around May (Better Hearing and Speech Month) but happen year-round in many areas.
Medicare Coverage for Hearing Exams
If you’re on Medicare, you can get a diagnostic hearing exam covered under Part B, but only if a doctor orders it because they suspect you need medical treatment. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the approved amount. In a hospital outpatient setting, you’ll also owe a copayment to the hospital.
Medicare also lets you visit an audiologist once every 12 months without a doctor’s order, but only for non-acute hearing conditions (like gradual age-related hearing loss) or for diagnostic services related to hearing loss treated with surgically implanted devices. Original Medicare does not cover routine hearing exams for fitting hearing aids, and it doesn’t cover hearing aids themselves. Some Medicare Advantage plans include hearing benefits that go beyond what Original Medicare offers, so check your specific plan.
VA Audiology Services for Veterans
All veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are eligible for comprehensive audiology evaluations at no cost. This includes full diagnostic testing, not just a basic screening. If you served in the military and are enrolled in VA care, contact your local VA medical center to schedule an appointment with their audiology department. Hearing loss is one of the most common service-connected disabilities, and the VA is well-equipped to handle it. Separate eligibility rules apply if you need hearing aids, but the evaluation itself is covered for all enrolled veterans.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
If hearing loss is affecting your ability to work, your state’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) program may cover a hearing evaluation and related services at no cost to you. To qualify, you need a physical or mental impairment that creates a substantial barrier to employment, and you must be able to benefit from rehabilitation services to achieve your career goals. Every state runs its own VR program, so eligibility details and wait times vary. Search for your state’s name plus “vocational rehabilitation” to find the right agency.
These programs can be particularly valuable because they cover not just the hearing test but potentially hearing aids, assistive devices, and workplace accommodations if you qualify.
Free Hearing Screenings for Children
Children have access to several layers of free hearing testing. Newborns are screened before leaving the hospital in nearly every state through Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, which are funded by the CDC across more than 35 states and territories. These programs track infants to make sure those who don’t pass the initial screening receive follow-up diagnostic testing and early intervention services.
School-age children are typically screened through their school district at regular intervals. If your child wasn’t screened at school or you have concerns between screenings, your pediatrician can perform a basic hearing check during a well-child visit, which is covered at no cost under most insurance plans as preventive care.
Online Hearing Tests as a Starting Point
If you want a quick sense of where your hearing stands before scheduling an in-person visit, several validated online hearing tests are available for free. A 2025 study published in Trends in Hearing found that a self-administered online hearing test correctly identified mild hearing loss 83% of the time and correctly cleared people with normal hearing 94% of the time. That’s good enough to tell you whether a professional evaluation is worth pursuing.
Online tests work best when you use quality headphones in a quiet room. They can estimate your hearing ability across different frequencies, but they can’t determine the cause of any loss or check for conditions like fluid behind the eardrum. Think of them as a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The World Health Organization offers a free app called hearWHO, and several audiology practices host validated screening tools on their websites.