LSTN

The step before your first hearing appointment

Struggling to follow conversations? Here's your next step.

Transcribe helps you notice. The free hearing test helps you understand. LSTN guides you to the right next step — before you even have an appointment.

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Here to Help

Clarity for People.
Connected to Professionals.

LSTN gives you the tools you need if you're starting to have trouble hearing, and simple, honest answers to the questions you have about your audiogram. We'll get you connected to professionals when you're ready for the next step.

LSTN connects you to hearing professionals

Recognize the Signs

Common Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss develops gradually in most adults. By the time it becomes obvious, it has often been present for years. These are the signs most people notice first.

Asking people to repeat themselves

You frequently say "what?" or "can you say that again?" — especially on phone calls or in groups.

Struggling in noisy places

Restaurants, parties, and group conversations are hard to follow even when you can hear the noise fine.

Turning the TV up louder

You need a higher volume than others in the room, or you rely on subtitles more than you used to.

Difficulty with phone calls

Voices on the phone sound muffled or unclear, even with the volume turned all the way up.

Missing high-pitched sounds

Doorbells, birds, or alarms that others can hear easily may no longer register for you.

Feeling tired from listening

Following conversations takes significant mental effort, leaving you drained after social situations.

If any of these sound familiar, LSTN's free online hearing test takes under five minutes and gives you instant results.

Source: Hearing Loss Association of America — Signs, Symptoms & Steps

Your Hearing Toolkit

Free, powerful tools designed to help you understand your hearing and live in a noisy world.

Transcribe

Struggling to follow conversations? Real-time speech-to-text displays captions on your screen so you never miss a word.

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Measure

See exactly how loud your environment is in decibels. Identify dangerous noise exposure before it causes permanent damage.

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Test

Screen your hearing with an online pure-tone BPTA test. Get instant results showing whether you have mild, moderate, or significant hearing loss.

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Interpret

Upload a photo of your audiogram and get a plain-English explanation of what your results mean — no medical jargon required.

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Connect

Search over 13,000 hearing clinics and audiologists across the US. Find one near you when you are ready for the next step.

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Shop

Shop professional-grade OTC hearing aids you can buy without a prescription. No audiologist visit required.

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Your Journey Starts Here

No credit card needed. Free account for life. Install as an app on your phone for instant, access anywhere.

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Common Questions

About LSTN

What is LSTN?
LSTN is a free collection of hearing health apps that help people who are struggling to understand what others are saying. It includes a hearing test, real-time speech transcription, a sound level meter, audiogram interpretation, and a tool to find audiologists near you.
Is LSTN free?
Yes, completely free. No subscriptions, no hidden fees. Create a free account and use all the tools for life.
Can I install LSTN on my phone?
Yes. LSTN installs directly from your browser - no app store required. On iPhone, tap the Share button and select Add to Home Screen. On Android, tap Install App when prompted.
What tools does LSTN include?
Six free tools: a BPTA hearing test, real-time speech-to-text transcription, a sound level meter, an AI audiogram interpreter, an audiologist finder, and an OTC hearing aid shop.
Is LSTN a medical device?
No. LSTN is a hearing screening tool, not a medical device, and does not provide medical diagnoses. If you have concerns about your hearing, we recommend consulting a licensed audiologist or ENT physician.
Who is LSTN for?
LSTN is for adults who are starting to notice hearing difficulties and want to understand what is happening before seeing a professional. It is also useful for anyone who has received an audiogram and wants a plain-English explanation of the results.

Hearing Health

Understanding Hearing Loss

What are the signs of hearing loss in adults?
Most people with hearing loss notice it gradually. Common signs include frequently asking people to repeat themselves, struggling to follow conversations in noisy places like restaurants or parties, turning the TV louder than others prefer, missing words on phone calls, and feeling mentally tired after social situations. LSTN's free Hearing Test can give you a quick screening result in under five minutes.Source: Hearing Loss Association of America
What causes difficulty understanding speech in noisy places?
Difficulty hearing in background noise — sometimes called speech-in-noise difficulty — is one of the earliest and most common signs of hearing loss. It happens because hearing loss tends to affect high frequencies first, which carry consonant sounds like S, F, and TH. When those sounds are masked by noise, speech becomes hard to follow even if overall volume seems fine. LSTN's Transcribe app displays real-time captions of what people are saying, helping you follow conversations when listening is difficult.Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
How do I know if I have hearing loss?
The only way to know for certain is a professional hearing evaluation from a licensed audiologist. A useful starting point is a screening test you can take at home. LSTN's free Hearing Test uses a pure-tone BPTA protocol to screen for the frequencies most commonly affected by hearing loss. Results are instant and can indicate whether a professional follow-up is worth scheduling.
What is a pure-tone hearing test and what does it measure?
A pure-tone hearing test (audiometry) plays tones at different frequencies — typically 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz — at decreasing volumes to find the quietest tone you can detect at each pitch. Results are plotted on an audiogram. A BPTA (Brief Pure Tone Audiometry) is a shorter screening version of the same test. LSTN's Hearing Test uses a BPTA protocol to give you a quick baseline screening from any device with headphones.
What do the numbers on my audiogram mean?
An audiogram plots your hearing threshold — the quietest sound you can detect — at multiple frequencies. The vertical axis shows volume in decibels (dB HL), with quieter sounds near the top. The horizontal axis shows pitch in hertz (Hz), from low bass on the left to high treble on the right. Normal hearing is generally 0-25 dB. A threshold of 26-40 dB is mild hearing loss; 41-55 dB is moderate; 56-70 dB is moderately severe; above 70 dB is severe to profound. LSTN's Audiogram Review gives you a plain-English explanation of what your specific results mean.Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
What is the difference between mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss?
These categories describe how much amplification is needed to detect sound clearly. Mild hearing loss (26-40 dB) means you may struggle in noisy environments or miss quiet speech. Moderate (41-55 dB) means you regularly miss conversational speech and likely benefit from hearing aids. Severe (71-90 dB) means you rely heavily on hearing aids or cochlear implants to communicate. LSTN's Audiogram Review can explain which category your specific results fall into, in plain English.Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
How loud is too loud? What decibel level damages hearing?
Sound above 85 dB can cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure — roughly the volume of a lawnmower or heavy city traffic. Brief exposure to sounds above 120 dB, like concerts or gunshots, can cause immediate damage. The risk grows with both volume and duration: 8 hours at 85 dB causes similar damage to 15 minutes at 100 dB. LSTN's Sound Level Meter lets you measure the decibel level of any environment in real time.Source: NIOSH — Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
Can noise exposure cause permanent hearing loss?
Yes. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common and entirely preventable forms of hearing loss. Repeated exposure to loud environments — construction sites, loud music, power tools — gradually damages the hair cells in the cochlea. Those cells do not regenerate. The damage is cumulative and permanent, though its impact may not be noticeable until years later. LSTN's Sound Level Meter helps you identify dangerous environments before exposure becomes permanent damage.Source: NIDCD — Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
What should I do if I struggle to follow conversations?
First, try to identify when and where it happens most. Noisy restaurants and group settings are a common early trigger. It is worth taking a hearing screening to get a baseline, and bringing those results to a conversation with a doctor or audiologist if the problem is ongoing. In the meantime, LSTN's Transcribe app can display real-time captions of what people are saying in any setting.
Can I buy hearing aids without seeing a doctor?
Yes. Since 2022, FDA-cleared over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are available without a prescription for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. You can fit and adjust them yourself. They are less customized than prescription devices but significantly more affordable. LSTN's Shop carries professional-grade OTC hearing aids you can order directly.
When should I see an audiologist?
If you regularly ask people to repeat themselves, struggle to hear on phone calls, or turn the TV up more than others need, it is worth getting a professional evaluation. You should also see an audiologist promptly if your hearing changes suddenly, if you hear ringing in your ears (tinnitus), or if your hearing seems significantly worse in one ear. LSTN can help you find an audiologist near you.
How do I find a hearing clinic near me?
LSTN's Find a Hearing Specialist tool searches a directory of over 13,000 audiology clinics and hearing care centers across the United States, ranked by proximity to your location or zip code. It is the fastest way to find a licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist near you.
Are online hearing tests any good?
A calibrated online hearing test taken in a quiet room with good headphones gives a useful screening result — accurate enough to indicate whether further evaluation is worth pursuing. However, it cannot replicate a clinical audiological evaluation in a sound-treated booth with insert earphones and the precise calibration of professional audiometric equipment. Think of an online test as a well-informed first step: it can tell you whether your hearing is worth having a professional look at, but a formal diagnosis still requires an audiologist. LSTN's Hearing Test is a BPTA pure-tone screening that follows established audiometric protocols.
Free Hearing Test, Audiogram Review & Hearing Health Apps | LSTN — LSTN