You completely spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very unusual, you’re really busy. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have a few hours to prepare. So… what should you do?
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 over your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about making sure 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. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms might be more prominent than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good plan to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. Some things you can list out include:
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? Does that occur frequently?
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is harder.
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you notice that it’s harder to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
This kind of information is very useful for us. Note the day and time of these symptoms if possible. 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 picked up somewhere. An ideal opportunity to get some valid info is when we advise you that hearing aids would help you.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Consider your medical past
This is another time when writing something down can help quicken the post-hearing-test-discussion. Before you come in, you should take some time to write down your medical history. Include major medical incidents and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Medical equipment you might presently be using.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Any history of illness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy environments
If you attend a booming rock concert the day before your hearing assessment, it’s going to skew the results Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be reliable. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
It can be a bit challenging sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing test, particularly if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. 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 situations. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can offer numerous advantages. Here are several of the most notable benefits:
- Even when you aren’t aware that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will absolutely be aware of it. This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make an accurate diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Having a dependable friend or family member 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 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 right away.
And even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.