Screening check
Should I be screened for hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss is common and often comes on slowly. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at whether adults 50 and older who have not noticed a problem should be screened. Check what it says for you.
About you
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What you will see
What the USPSTF says about hearing loss screening for you.
Educational only, not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about any change in your hearing.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, March 2021 recommendation on screening for hearing loss in older adults.
Validated in
Adults 50 and older with age-related hearing loss who have not noticed any problem with their hearing.
Limits
It is not a hearing test. It does not cover people who have noticed hearing problems, or sudden, noise-related, congenital or conductive hearing loss.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 50 and older who have not noticed a hearing problem | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening | I |
The 2021 statement is consistent with the 2012 statement (USPSTF 2021). It covers people who have not noticed any issues with their hearing. It does not apply to conductive, congenital or sudden hearing loss, hearing loss caused by recent noise exposure, or people reporting signs and symptoms of hearing loss. For people with symptoms or concerns about their hearing, clinicians should use their clinical judgement about testing (USPSTF 2021).
Why it matters
About 16% of US adults reported difficulty hearing in 2014–2016. In a 2014 study, 43% of adults 70 or older reported hearing loss, compared with 19% of those aged 40 to 69 (USPSTF 2021). Hearing loss has been linked to falls, hospital stays, social isolation, depression and cognitive decline, and moderate to severe loss to more difficulty with daily tasks such as driving and managing medicines or money (USPSTF 2021).
How hearing is checked
Simple checks include a single question ("Do you have difficulty with your hearing?"), short questionnaires, handheld screening devices and tablet-based apps. Whispered voice, finger rub and watch tick tests have questionable accuracy. A positive screen is usually confirmed with pure-tone audiometry (USPSTF 2021). Mild or moderate age-related hearing loss is mainly treated with hearing aids; cochlear implants are an option for severe or profound loss (USPSTF 2021).
Common questions
Does "insufficient evidence" mean I should not be tested?
No. An I statement means there was not enough evidence to judge whether screening people without symptoms helps. The USPSTF noted that screening and confirmation tests are noninvasive and serious harms of treatment are rare, so there are likely little to no harms (USPSTF 2021). You can ask your clinician.
Why is there not enough evidence?
The USPSTF found a lack of evidence and called for more studies on whether screening and treating people who have not noticed a problem improves quality of life and function, not just hearing aid use. A hearing test can show who qualifies for a hearing aid, but not who will find one helpful and use it (USPSTF 2021).
Also see the vision screening check for older adults, the memory and thinking screening check, the fall risk check, the PHQ-9 depression screen and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Hearing Loss in Older Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(12):1196-1201. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hearing-loss-in-older-adults-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.