You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’re very busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So how should I get ready?
Hearing tests aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing test is really about making sure you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
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. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. Some things you can list out include:
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s harder to understand people than usual.
- Was it difficult to hear the tv? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- Did you have trouble making out a conversation while dining out in a packed restaurant? Does that happen a lot?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this normally occur in the morning? All day?
This kind of information is extremely useful for us. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if you can. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have heard someplace. If we tell you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be the perfect time to ask educated questions.
You will get better information and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
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 write down your medical history. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy settings
If you go to a booming rock concert the day 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 exam. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance in advance
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… bewildering. If your hearing loss is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. You will be a great deal more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in certain instances. 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 considerable benefits to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent advantages:
- You don’t always know when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- You’re likely to go over a lot of info during your exam. Later, 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. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the case. 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 walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. That could mean utilizing some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!
