A Hearing Test That Actually Tells You What’s Going On
Most people who book a hearing test have already had one. They walked out with “fine for your age” — and they’re still asking for things to be repeated, still nudging the TV up, still tuning out at family meals.
If that’s you, you’re not imagining it. A quick screening and a proper assessment are not the same thing.
A Diagnostic, Not a Screening
A screening tells you whether your hearing falls above or below a basic threshold. A diagnostic assessment tells you what is actually going on, why it’s affecting the situations you care about, and what to do next.
BestHear runs the second.
What’s Included in a BestHear Hearing Test
A private hearing assessment in Swansea includes:
- Otoscopy — a visual ear check of your ear canal and eardrum, with imagery you can see
- Pure Tone Audiometry with Insert Earphones — a standard hearing test checking for pure tone hearing detection across the entire speech range, using both air and bone conduction with advanced masking technique
- Tympanometry — an eardrum and middle-ear function test, often skipped in quick screenings
- Speech Audiometry with Insert Earphones — how well you can detect words, not just tones, at quiet and comfortable listening levels
- A written report you can share with your GP, ENT consultant, or family
Duration: 60 minutes | Fee: £150 (includes the written report)
Who Carries Out the Assessment
BestHear is led by Armaj Ali, who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist in Audiology, and with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). Holding both registrations is uncommon in UK private practice. It is the standard BestHear sets for any lead clinician who delivers a diagnostic assessment in its name.
What Makes the BestHear Test Different
The first half of the appointment is the test. The second half is the conversation that turns the test into useful answers — what the numbers mean for your day-to-day life, and what makes sense to do about it.
That second half is where most hearing tests stop short. Patients leave with numbers they can’t act on, and questions they didn’t get to ask.
What Patients Say
“Mr Armaj Ali had a very different approach to hearing loss that differentiated from other consultations by being detailed, thorough and personalised to a level that really made a huge difference.”
— Ioan Hefin, professional actor, BestHear patient (Google review, 2024)
Ioan came in for an ear infection. The way he was assessed at that first appointment is why he came back for hearing aids later.
How to Book
- Book online or call 01792 940032
- Attend a 60-minute appointment at BestHear, Swansea
- Leave with a written report and a clear plan — referral, hearing aid trial, monitoring, or simple reassurance, depending on what the assessment shows
There is no sales pitch built into the appointment. If your hearing is fine, the report says so and you go home.
Why It Matters to Get This Right
Hearing loss usually develops slowly. Slow enough that the people around you notice it before you do, and slow enough that your brain starts to forget how to process speech sounds when it stops getting them clearly.
Recent research has linked untreated hearing loss to faster cognitive decline (Livingston et al., Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care, 2020; Lin et al., JAMA Neurology, 2011). Acting earlier means simpler treatment and less catching up later.
What You Walk Away With
- A clear answer — what was measured, what it means, in plain language
- A written report you can share with your GP, ENT, or family
- A practical plan if anything needs doing, with costs and timelines
- No pressure to continue with BestHear if you would rather take the report elsewhere
