You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need 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 over 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. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms may be more pronounced than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good idea to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can jot things down like:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? Does this normally occur in the morning? All day?
- Did you have trouble making out a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? If so, how often does that occur?
- Is it a challenge to carry on conversations on the phone? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
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. Do some research on 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 presume. A good opportunity to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
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. Review your medical history
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you come in for your exam. Write down major medical incidents and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Illness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy environments
If you attend a loud rock concert the day before your hearing test, it’s going to skew the results Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be correct. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, check with your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… perplexing. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. 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 expect. We can also help you in some situations. Otherwise, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can present numerous advantages. amongst the most notable benefits are the following:
- 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.
- You’re likely to go over a lot of information during your appointment. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time remembering all of the information we give you if someone 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 diagnosis. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. Just like the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. That might mean utilizing some hearing 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 being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.