You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need to stay awake 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 through your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, preparing for your hearing test is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before you come see us. You can jot things down like:
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it turned way up? And do you notice that it’s more difficult to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- Did you have issues following a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? Does that happen frequently?
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
We find this kind of information very helpful. Take note of 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 much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have heard someplace. An ideal opportunity to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would help you.
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 faster after your appointment. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your assessment. This should include both major and minor incidents. You should note things like:
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your test. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for 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 work together can be… bewildering. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, especially if it’s part of a medical condition. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in certain instances. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
There are some significant advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. amongst the most prominent advantages are the following:
- You’re likely to go over a lot of info at your appointment. Having a trusted friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more comprehensive information.
7. Be prepared for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. With a hearing test, you will get the results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to enhance your overall hearing health and walk you through the meaning of your results. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!
