You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Fortunately, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to get ready. So… what should you do?
You won’t have to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Preparing for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. In other words, preparing for your hearing test is really about making sure you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. Put together a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing impairment differ from person to person and at different times. There might be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more discreet. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. Some things you can list out include:
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Take note of times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Did you have issues making out a conversation while eating out in a packed restaurant? If so, how often does that occur?
- Was it hard to hear the television? How high is the volume? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
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 record the times.
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 opportunity to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences may be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Go over your medical history
This one will also help the process go smoother after diagnosis. Before your appointment, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. Write down major medical incidents and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be accurate. 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 reliable and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… perplexing. If your hearing impairment is part of a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in certain situations. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can provide numerous benefits. amongst the most prominent advantages are the following:
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be covered. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- Even when you aren’t aware that you have hearing loss, people close to you will absolutely be aware of it. So our exam and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more comprehensive information.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the situation. With a hearing exam, you will get the 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 utilizing some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t need to cram for your hearing test. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.