You completely forgot your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’ve been very busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam. Getting ready for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing test is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
The symptoms of hearing impairment vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms might be more dominant than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good plan to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most pronounced. You can write things down like:
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- 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?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Did you have difficulty hearing a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? Does that occur a lot?
We find this type of information very useful. If you can, take note of the time and date these instances occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Research hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have picked up somewhere. An ideal time to get some valid info is when we advise you that hearing aids would benefit you.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Consider your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before your appointment, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. This should consist of both major and minor incidents. Here are some examples:
- Medical equipment you may currently be using.
- Illness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you attend a booming rock concert the day 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. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Consult your insurance ahead of time
It can be somewhat challenging sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing exam, particularly if it’s related to a medical disorder. But other plans may not. You will be a great deal more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in certain cases. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member 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 prominent advantages:
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info during your appointment. When you get home, 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 situation. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your overall hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some hearing protection. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!
