You totally forgot your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not very unusual, you’re really busy. Thankfully, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to prepare. So what should I do to get ready?
Hearing tests aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for a test. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. In other words, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. Put together a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms may be more dominant than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can write things down like:
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Did you have issues hearing a conversation while eating out in a crowded restaurant? Does that occur frequently?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How high is the volume? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this normally happen in the morning? All day?
This kind of information is very useful for us. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if possible. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have heard somewhere. A good time to get some valid info is when we advise you that hearing aids would help you.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. Write down major medical incidents and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Medical equipment you may currently be using.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
- What kind of medication you take.
4. Avoid loud noises and noisy environments
If you attend a loud rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to skew the results Likewise, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before you come in, consult your insurance company
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s part of a medical condition. But not all plans will. You will be a lot more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can offer several advantages. Here are some of the most notable advantages:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our exam and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Having a dependable friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your overall hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.