You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Thankfully, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So… what should you do?
Hearing tests aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for a test. With a hearing test, it’s more about attempting to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. In other words, preparing for your hearing test is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Here are 7 easy ways to get prepped and ready!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everybody all the time. There may be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more subtle. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before you come see us. You can write things down like:
- Did you have issues making out a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? Does that happen a lot?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Keep track of times when it’s harder to understand people than normal.
This kind of information is really useful for us. Note the day and time of these symptoms if possible. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have heard someplace. A good opportunity to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before your appointment, you should take some time to write down your medical history. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are some examples:
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Medical equipment you might presently be using.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
4. Stay away from loud noises and noisy environments
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be correct. The point here is that you need to avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what parts of your appointment will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in some situations. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask someone to come with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can offer several benefits. amongst the most notable advantages are the following:
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be covered. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
- 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 exam and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more comprehensive information.
7. Be ready for your results
It might be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing exam. 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 what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your overall hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. That might mean using some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t need to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!