On this page you will find information about the hearing test on the Alexa platform. If you want to use the test, say"Alexa, start hearing test" (without "a" or "the"). If you want to use the test on your smartphone, you will find the relevant information at the bottom of this page.

This hearing test is based on the Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA), which can be used to investigate problems understanding speech in background noise. The test is normally carried out by an ENT specialist or audiologist. The Alexa self-test cannot replace the accuracy of a calibrated measurement and is therefore not a medical diagnosis.

At the bottom of this page you will find information on the test procedure, tips for installation problems and our publications on the hearing test.

Information on the test procedure

During the test you will hear sentences in a murmur. Simply repeat all the words you have understood. The difficulty is automatically adjusted during the test so that you understand about half of the words at the end. It is therefore normal that you will not understand anything in some sentences. Then simply say "continue".

After 20 sentences, your hearing ability will be assessed. If Alexa indicates that your speech comprehension is worse than that of most people, please repeat the measurement to familiarise yourself with the test. If this result still occurs after the third measurement, we advise you to seek advice from an ENT specialist or audiologist.

Use on the smartphone

Our test was evaluated for use with smart speakers (such as the Echo Hub), but can be used on any smartphone with headphones. Because the volume and quality of smartphone speakers are limited by the small housing, we do not recommend using them without headphones. To use it, you need a free Amazon account and the free Alexa app.

• Download the Alexa app; the app is available free of charge for iOS(link) and Android(link).
• Start the app and log in with your Amazon account information.
• Tap on the blue circle and say "Start listening test".

Problems with the installation?

If you have problems using the skill, we recommend the following procedure:

1. activation via the browser

• Follow this link to the listening test on the Amazon pages.
• If necessary, log in with your Amazon account details.
• Click on "Activate".
• The listening test is now available on your Alexa devices, including in your Alexa app on your smartphone. To start, say: "Alexa, start hearing test".

2. activation via the Alexa app

• Open your Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet
• Tap on "More" at the bottom right
• Then tap on "Skills and games" and then on the magnifying glass in the top right-hand corner
• Enter "Hearing test" as the search term. The result is the Oldenburg hearing test ("Alexa, start hearing test").
• Tap on it and select "Activate for use"
• The hearing test is now available on your Alexa devices, including in your Alexa app on your smartphone. To start, say: "Alexa, start hearing test"

Publications

• Ooster, J., Krüger, M., Bach, J.B., Wagener, K.C., Kollmeier, B., Meyer, B.T. (2020). "Speech audiometry at home: Automated listening tests via smart speakers with normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners," accepted for publication in Trends in Hearing.
• Ooster, J., Porysek Moreta, P. N., Bach, J.-H., Holube, I., Meyer, B.T. (2019). "Computer, test my hearing: Accurate speech audiometry with smart speakers," in Proc. Interspeech, doi.org/10.21437/Interspeech.2019-2118