How to test sound output with a hearing aid connected

You have connected your hearing aids, but you are not sure whether computer or phone audio is actually playing through them. Or the sound seems to come from only one side, or changes when you start a call.

Use the Speaker Test to play left and right channel sounds and a frequency sweep. Start with a low volume: a test tone can sound much louder through a hearing aid than you expect. This checks the audio route and playback, not your hearing or the hearing aids’ fitting.

Test sound output safely

Open the Speaker Test on the device connected to your hearing aids. Turn the device volume down before playing anything.
Check the device’s sound output setting and select your hearing aids if they appear as an output. If the hearing aids are connected but not listed, check their Bluetooth or hearing-device settings first.
Play the left and right channel sounds separately at a quiet level. Listen for sound in each hearing aid, and note whether it seems to come from the expected side.
If comfortable, play the frequency sweep briefly at a low level. Stop if it is unpleasant, too loud, or causes feedback. You do not need to turn up the sound to finish the check.
Repeat the channel check after closing any calling, music, or meeting app that might have changed the audio route.

If you are using a phone, keep it close enough for the hearing aids to stay connected. If the phone has a media output selector, confirm that the hearing aids are selected there too.

What the result means

You hear both channels in the expected aids

The browser can send audio through the selected output. If a particular app is still silent, check that app’s output setting and the device it selected. Some apps keep their own output choice even after you change the system setting.

You hear audio, but it comes from the device speakers

The audio is playing, but it is routed to another output. The hearing aids may be paired for calls or controls without being selected for media playback. Choose them in the operating system’s output settings, then try the test again.

Both sides play the same sound

This does not necessarily mean anything is broken. Hearing aids may combine or process stereo audio, and some configurations send both channels to both ears. Check whether left and right playback differ using another known stereo source, but do not change hearing-aid programming based on this test alone.

One side is silent or much quieter

First confirm that the sound is routed to the hearing aids, and check their battery, fit, and connection. Then test another audio source. If the same side stays silent across sources, the issue may be in the hearing aid, its settings, or its connection rather than the browser.

The sweep sounds uneven or uncomfortable

Hearing aids adjust loudness and frequencies to suit the wearer, so a sweep is not expected to sound flat. Stop the test if a tone is uncomfortable. This result does not diagnose a hearing problem or show whether the aids are programmed correctly.

How to fix the audio route

Lower the volume before retrying. Start with the computer or phone volume low, then increase it only a little if needed. Hearing aids can amplify sound, and a tone that seems quiet through built-in speakers may be uncomfortable through the aids.
Select the hearing aids as the output. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound and choose the hearing aids under Output. On a Mac, open System Settings › Sound › Output and select them if listed. If another output is selected, the test will play there instead.
Check the hearing-device connection. On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices and confirm the aids are connected. On a Mac, check System Settings › Bluetooth. For iPhone hearing devices, open Settings › Accessibility › Hearing Devices and check the connection. Android menu names vary, but start at Settings › Accessibility or Settings › Connected devices.
Reconnect the aids. Turn Bluetooth off and back on, or disconnect and reconnect the hearing aids using their usual controls. If they connect for calls but not other audio, check their manufacturer’s instructions for media streaming support and setup.
Close apps that may hold the audio route. Quit video-call and music apps, then reload the test. Recheck the system output selection before testing again.
Compare with another safe audio source. Try familiar speech at a comfortable level. If the hearing aids work with that source but not in the browser, check the browser tab’s volume and the system output selection. For other common routing checks, see Audio coming from the wrong output?

When to contact your hearing care professional

If one hearing aid remains silent or unusually quiet with several audio sources, do not use louder tones to investigate. Check the battery or charge, make sure the aid is seated correctly, and follow the cleaning and troubleshooting steps provided with it. If the problem continues, contact your hearing care professional or the manufacturer. They can check the device and its programming safely.

Why the sweep may sound different

A browser sends audio to the output chosen by your device. Hearing aids may then adjust the sound with compression, equalization, noise reduction, or a mono setting. Those changes can make a left and right test sound different from ordinary speakers, and they are normal in many setups.

The Speaker Test checks that sound can play and helps you compare channels. It cannot measure hearing-aid calibration, confirm speech clarity, or replace a fitting appointment.