You’re a really busy person, so it’s reasonable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have a few hours to prepare. So how should I get ready?
You won’t need to stay awake all night preparing for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing exam, 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 getting ready for your hearing exam is really about.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before you come see us. Some things you can list out include:
- Do you find yourself losing focus in meetings at work? Does this normally happen in the morning? All day?
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Record times when it’s more difficult to understand people than usual.
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- Did you have trouble hearing a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? Does that happen frequently?
This kind of information is very useful for us. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Research hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you presume. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s would be an ideal opportunity to ask informed questions.
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. Go over your medical history
This is another moment when writing something down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Medical equipment you may presently use.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
4. Avoid loud noises and noisy environments
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the results will be skewed. Similarly, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be accurate. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will ensure the results are a correct reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance in advance
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. 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 expect. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
There are several considerable benefits to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are some of the most notable advantages:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time remembering all of the information we give you if someone else is there with you.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It might be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing test, 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 to improve your overall hearing health and help you understand the meaning of your results. That could mean using some ear protection or some behavioral changes or perhaps hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being prepared will be helpful, especially for you.