You totally spaced your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’ve been very busy. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing tests aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, preparing for your hearing test 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. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
The symptoms of hearing impairment vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms might be more dominant than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. Some things you can list out include:
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? If so, how often does that occur?
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this normally occur in the morning? All day?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Take note of times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
- Was it difficult to hear the tv? How high is the volume? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
This kind of information is really useful for us. If you can, take note of the time and day these instances occurred. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you may have heard someplace. A good time to get some accurate info is when we advise you that hearing aids would help you.
You will get better information 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 is another instance when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your appointment. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
4. Stay away from loud noises and noisy settings
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. 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 help ensure your results are accurate and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Check with your insurance beforehand
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans might cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in some instances. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can offer numerous advantages. Among the most notable advantages are the following:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more information to help make an accurate diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if someone else is there with you.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It could be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the case. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can enhance your general hearing health. That could mean using some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!