You completely forgot your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not really unusual, you’ve been very busy. Luckily, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So what should I do to get ready?
You won’t need to stay up all night preparing for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Preparing for a hearing test is more about thinking over your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing test is really about.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. There may be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more subtle. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. You can write things down like:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? If so, how frequently does that happen?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
We find this type of information very useful. Note the day and time of these symptoms if you can. 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 a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you think you know. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be a great time to ask informed questions.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed up the process and help you get better information.
3. Go over your medical history
This is another time when writing something down can help quicken the post-hearing-test-discussion. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. This should consist of both major and minor incidents. You should write down things like:
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
- Medical devices you may currently use.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- What kind of medication you take.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy environments
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. The results will be similarly skewed if you attend an airshow the day of your test. The point here is that you should avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are a correct reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Before your appointment, consult your insurance company
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what parts of your appointment will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, especially if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. It’s a good idea to get all of this squared away before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. We can also help you in some situations. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can offer several advantages. Here are several of the most prominent benefits:
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing loss, people close to you will absolutely be aware of it. So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it could be days or weeks before you get your results. But that’s not the case with a hearing test. 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 enhance your overall hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some hearing protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.