If you’ve booked a hearing test, you’ll probably be asked to bring someone close to you, maybe your partner, a family member, or a good friend. It might sound like an unusual request, but there’s a very good reason we do.
Before we go any further, here’s a short video from Adam explaining why we ask you to bring someone with you, and why it makes such a big difference to your hearing test experience:
Understanding Your Hearing in Context
When we carry out a hearing test, we’re not just looking at what tones you can hear through the headphones. The test tells us what your ears are doing in a controlled environment, but we also want to understand how things sound in real life; how you follow conversations, how tiring that can be, and where you notice the most difficulty.
That’s where the person beside you makes a difference. They can give us examples you might not notice yourself. Maybe they’ve seen you asking for repeats more often, or turning the TV up a little louder. These small clues help us build a clearer picture of your hearing in everyday situations.
Why Hearing Loss Is Hard to Notice
The tricky thing about hearing loss is that it happens gradually. You don’t always realise what’s changing because you’re adapting as you go. If you didn’t hear something, you can’t know you missed it. It’s common for someone to say, “My hearing’s fine,” while their partner quietly disagrees, and both of them are right in their own way.
Having someone there at the hearing test helps us bring those perspectives together. They can describe what they’ve noticed, and you can share how things feel from your side. That honest, two-way insight helps us see the full story behind the results.
A Better Conversation, and Better Results
When someone joins you, it changes the tone of the appointment. It feels more open and relaxed. You can share examples together and help each other remember small details that matter. That conversation helps our clinicians tailor your treatment precisely to your needs.
Hearing is deeply personal, but it’s also social. It’s about connection. The people who know you best are often the first to notice subtle changes, and the ones who stand to benefit most when your hearing improves. Their involvement helps us make sure your solution works not just for you, but for the people you care about too.
Making the Experience More Comfortable
Bringing someone along can also make the appointment feel easier. For some people, a hearing test can feel like unfamiliar territory, especially if it’s been years since their last one. Having a familiar face nearby helps you relax, and that usually leads to more accurate results. The more at ease you feel, the more natural the process, and the clearer the outcome.
At Alto, we believe that clarity begins with care. Taking the time to listen, involve others, and understand your hearing in context is what helps us deliver results that genuinely improve your day-to-day life.
What Happens After the Hearing Test
Once your hearing test is complete, we’ll go through your results together in plain language. You’ll see exactly what your hearing looks like and how that relates to your everyday experiences. If you brought someone with you, they’ll often recognise the situations we discuss , and that can be reassuring for both of you.
From there, we’ll explore treatment options that suit your hearing and your lifestyle, whether that’s part of our tailored treatment plans or simply monitoring your hearing for future reference. It’s all about giving you clear information and the confidence to make decisions at your own pace.
Book Your Complete Hearing Assessment
When we ask you to bring someone close to you, it’s never just a formality. It’s part of how we make your hearing assessment personal and meaningful. Together, we can build a more complete understanding of your hearing and create a plan that brings back clarity in every conversation.
If you’d like to book your Complete Hearing Assessment, call 0800 2461901 or email hello@altohear.co.uk.
Our clinics are based in Kenilworth, Lutterworth, Market Bosworth, and Clitheroe, all offering the same calm, professional and welcoming experience.
For more information about recognising hearing changes and getting support, visit the RNID website.