You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Luckily, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to prepare. So how should I get ready?
Hearing tests 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 test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. In other words, getting ready for your hearing test is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
The symptoms of hearing impairment differ from person to person and at different times. There might be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more discreet. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. Some things you can write down include:
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you notice that it’s more difficult to hear at night than in the morning?
- Is it a challenge to carry on conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s more difficult to hear people than normal.
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prominent?
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you strain to keep up with conversations? Does that occur frequently?
We find this kind of information very useful. If you can, take note of the time and date these symptoms occurred. At least note 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? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you think you know. A good opportunity 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 types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Consider your medical past
This one will also help the process go smoother after your appointment. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Medical devices you might presently be using.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Operations you’ve had, both major or minor.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you go to a loud rock concert the day before your hearing test, it’s going to skew the outcome. The results will be similarly impacted if you go to 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 assessment. This will ensure the results are a correct reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, consult your insurance company
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what portions of your appointment will be covered by insurance. Some plans might cover your hearing test, especially if it’s part of a medical disorder. But other plans may not. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can present numerous advantages. Here are some of the most prominent advantages:
- You’re likely to go over 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.
- 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.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It might 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 got fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And even better, 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 behavioral changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.
