You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’re really busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So what should I do to get ready?
You won’t have to stay awake all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing test 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 present the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms might be more dominant than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. You can write things down like:
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you struggle to hear conversations? Does that happen frequently?
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Was it hard to hear the television? How high is the volume? 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?
This type of information is extremely useful for us. If you can, take note of the time and day these symptoms occurred. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
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 based on what you think you know. An ideal time to get some accurate info is when we advise you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go smoother after your appointment. Write down your medical history before you come in for your assessment. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Any history of sickness or health problems (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Medical devices you may presently use.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy settings
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your exam. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
It can be a bit challenging sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. 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 we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
There are some significant benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent benefits:
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info at your exam. Having a trusted friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing test, that’s not the situation. Similar to 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 help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. That could mean using some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or perhaps hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!