You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely 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 a few hours to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. In other words, preparing for your hearing test is really about making certain 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 occur)
The symptoms of hearing loss differ from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. Some things you can list out include:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it turned way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you struggle to hear conversations? If so, how often does that happen?
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Record times when it’s harder to hear people than normal.
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
This kind of information is extremely useful for us. If you can, take note of the time and date these symptoms occurred. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Get some information about hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you presume. If we inform you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s going to be an ideal moment to ask informed questions.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed up the process and help you get better answers.
3. Consider your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you come in for your appointment. Write down major medical incidents and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Medical devices you might presently be using.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Illness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy settings
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. Similarly, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be accurate. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing test. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, consult your insurance company
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be much 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 we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a family member or friend in with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can present numerous advantages. Here are some of the most prominent advantages:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our test and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- You’re likely to go over a lot of information during your appointment. 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 might be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the case with a hearing exam. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your overall hearing health and help you understand the meaning of your results. That might mean using some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or perhaps hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!