awhile back I had a noise that sounded like wheel bearings. I jacked up the front of the car and tried to move the tire in-out and it didnt move

took it to a shop and they diagnosed the front wheel bearings as bad

I was just wondering.. how did they check it then?

I have a noise similar coming back

 

They likely used an auto stethoscope to pinpoint the noise. I think that's the way they usually diagnose bearing problems since otherwise you'd have to tear the sealed bearing apart.