You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’re very busy. 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 have to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. In other words, preparing for your hearing exam is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms might 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:
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you strain to keep up with conversations? Does that happen frequently?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Record times when it’s more difficult to hear people than normal.
- Was it hard to hear the tv? How high is the volume? And do you notice that it’s harder to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration during meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
We find this type of information very useful. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Research hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you might have picked up someplace. If we inform you a hearing aid would be beneficial, that’s going to be an ideal moment to ask informed questions.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Go over your medical history
This is another time when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you come in for your exam. This should consist of both major and minor incidents. Here are a few examples:
- What kind of medication you take.
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
- Medical devices you might presently be using.
4. Loud noisy settings should be shunned
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. 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 exam. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, consult your insurance company
It can be somewhat challenging sorting out what parts of your appointment will be covered by insurance. Some plans might cover your hearing test, particularly if it’s part of a medical disorder. But other plans may not. You will be a lot more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in certain situations. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
There are some significant advantages to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent benefits:
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a dependable friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing loss, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make an accurate diagnosis or exam.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the case with a hearing exam. With a hearing exam, you will get the results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can enhance your overall hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing test. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.