You completely forgot your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’re 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?
Hearing tests aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking over your symptoms and making sure you don’t forget anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing exam is really about.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms might be more pronounced than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good idea to begin taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. Some things you can write down include:
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How high is the volume? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to hear conversations? If so, how often does that happen?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Monitor times when it’s more difficult to hear people than usual.
- Do you find yourself losing focus during meetings at work? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
This kind of information is extremely useful for us. 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 info 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 influenced by what you think you know. If we tell you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be the perfect opportunity to ask educated questions.
You will get better information and the process will be accelerated when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Review your medical history
This one will also help the process go smoother after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. This should include both major and minor incidents. You should note things like:
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Illness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medical devices you may presently be using.
4. Avoid loud noises and noisy settings
If you go to a loud rock concert the day before your hearing assessment, it’s going to affect the results Likewise, if you go to an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. The point here is that you should avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance beforehand
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what portions of your appointment will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is part of a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. 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. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. 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 strictly necessary, but it can provide numerous benefits. amongst the most notable advantages are the following:
- You don’t always recognize 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 based on much deeper and more comprehensive information.
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info at your exam. Having a trusted friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It could be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the situation with a hearing exam. With a hearing exam, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can enhance your general hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. That could mean utilizing some ear protection or some behavioral changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!