You totally forgot 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 some time to prepare. So… what should you do?
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. With a hearing test, it’s more about attempting to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing test is really about.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everyone all the time. There might be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more subtle. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before you come see us. You can write things down like:
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Was it hard to hear the television? How high is the volume? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Record times when it’s more difficult to understand people than normal.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? Does that happen a lot?
We find this kind of information very helpful. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if possible. If you can’t, just note that they did happen.
2. Get some information 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 presume. If we tell you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s would be the perfect time to ask informed questions.
You will get better answers 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 smoother after your appointment. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. Include major medical incidents and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical equipment you may currently be using.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you go to a booming rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact 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 exam. This will ensure the results are a correct reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Check with your insurance in advance
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… bewildering. Some plans may cover your hearing exam, particularly if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. In some cases, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can present numerous benefits. Among the most prominent benefits are the following:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly 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 definitive diagnosis or exam.
- You’re likely to go over a lot of information during your appointment. When you get home, after the appointment, you will have an easier time remembering 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 situation with a hearing exam. With a hearing test, you will get the results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to enhance your overall hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!
