You completely spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very unusual, you’ve been very 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 stay up all night to study for an exam. Getting ready for a hearing exam is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. In other words, preparing for your hearing exam is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. There may be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more subtle. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. You can write things down like:
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Take note of times when understanding the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Did you have trouble making out a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? If so, how frequently does that occur?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
This kind of information is very useful for us. Note the day and time of these symptoms if possible. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Research hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have picked up somewhere. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be the perfect moment to ask educated questions.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after your appointment. Write down your medical history before you come in for your appointment. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Major or minor surgeries that you have undergone.
- Medical devices you may presently use.
- Any history of illness or health problems (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your test. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are a reliable reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance ahead of time
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… perplexing. Some plans might cover your hearing test, particularly if it’s part of a medical disorder. But not all plans will. 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. In some cases, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come in with you
There are several important benefits 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 exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- You don’t always recognize 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 insight to help make a definitive diagnosis or exam.
7. Be prepared for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it could be days or weeks before you get your results. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. With a hearing exam, you will get the results right away.
And even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can enhance your general hearing health. That might mean using some hearing protection or some behavioral changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!
