You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’re really busy. Fortunately, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to get ready. So what should I do to get ready?
Hearing exams aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter 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. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing exam is really about.
Here are 7 simple ways to get prepped and ready!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms may be more pronounced than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good plan to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most pronounced. You can jot things down like:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? If so, how frequently does that take place?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prominent?
We find this kind of information very useful. If you can, take note of the time and day these symptoms occurred. At least note 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? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you think you know. A good opportunity to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences may be can help speed up the process and help you get better answers.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go smoother after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. This should include both major and minor situations. Here are some examples:
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
- Any history of illness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy environments
If you attend a loud rock concert the night before your hearing assessment, it’s going to affect the outcome. The results will be similarly impacted if you go to an airshow the day of your exam. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is part of a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. It’s a good plan to get all of this squared away before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. We can also help you in certain situations. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come with you
There are several considerable advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing test, though it’s not entirely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent advantages:
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a dependable friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
- 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 insight to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
7. Be ready for your results
It could be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing test. Just like the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your general hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some hearing protection. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!