You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have a few hours to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need to stay awake all night preparing for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing exam, it’s more about attempting 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 test is really about.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they occur)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. There may be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more subtle. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before your appointment. Some things you can list out include:
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Monitor times when it’s more difficult to understand people than usual.
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- Did you have difficulty following a conversation while eating out in a busy restaurant? Does that occur a lot?
We find this kind of information very helpful. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. At least observe 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 picked up somewhere. An ideal time to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would help you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed up 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:
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have had.
- Medical equipment you might presently be using.
- Any history of sickness or health problems (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Stay away from loud noises and noisy settings
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be reliable. The point here is that you should avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Talk to your insurance ahead of time
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… confusing. If your hearing loss is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. It’s a good idea to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. We can also help you in certain instances. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
There are some important advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing test, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are several of the most notable benefits:
- Even when you aren’t aware that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. So our test and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more comprehensive information.
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info at your exam. When you get home, 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
It might be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing exam. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to improve your overall hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. That could mean using some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or perhaps 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!