You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So how should I get ready?
Hearing tests aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing exam is really about.
Here are 7 easy ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms might be more pronounced than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. Some things you can write down include:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you notice that it’s more difficult to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you struggle to hear conversations? If so, how often does that happen?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prominent?
- Is it frustrating to carry on conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s harder to hear people than usual.
We find this type of information very helpful. If you can, note the time and day these instances occurred. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you might have heard somewhere. An ideal opportunity to get some accurate info is when we advise you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences may be can help speed along the process and help you get better information.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another time when writing something down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-discussion. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your assessment. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you go to a booming rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact the outcome. The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your exam. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Talk to your insurance beforehand
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… confusing. Some plans might cover your hearing exam, particularly if it’s part of a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in some cases. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
There are some significant advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent benefits:
- You don’t always know when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more information to help make a definitive diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing test, that’s not the situation. Similar to the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to improve your general hearing health and help you understand the meaning of your results. 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, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!