You totally forgot your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’ve been very busy. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So what should I do to get ready?
Hearing tests aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for a test. Getting ready for a hearing exam is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. In other words, preparing for your hearing exam is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
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 may be more pronounced than others. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before your appointment. Some things you can write down include:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Is it a challenge to carry on conversations on the phone? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Did you have trouble hearing a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? Does that happen a lot?
This kind of information is very 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. Research hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you presume. If we inform you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be an ideal time to ask educated questions.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are available and what your preferences might be can help speed up the process and help you get better information.
3. Review your medical history
This one will also help the process go smoother after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you come in for your appointment. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are some examples:
- Illness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the results will be skewed. The results will be similarly skewed if you attend an airshow the day of your exam. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Talk to your insurance in advance
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… bewildering. Some plans might cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s part of a medical condition. But not all plans will. It’s a good idea to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. 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 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 several benefits. Here are several of the most notable advantages:
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a trusted friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t working right 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 precise diagnosis or exam.
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 test, that’s not the case. With a hearing exam, you will get the results right away.
And even better, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. That could mean utilizing some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or maybe hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing test. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.