You totally spaced your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’ve been really busy. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to get ready. So how should I get ready?
Hearing exams aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for a test. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking over 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 they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. There might be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more subtle. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before you come see us. Some things you can list out include:
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Did you have difficulty making out a conversation while eating out in a busy restaurant? If so, how frequently does that occur?
- Is it challenging to have conversations on the phone? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How high is the volume? And do you notice that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
This type of information is really useful for us. Note the day and time of these symptoms if you can. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you may have heard someplace. A good opportunity to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would help you.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what types of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Review your medical history
This is another moment when writing things down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-conversation. Before you come in, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. Include major medical incidents and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medical equipment you may presently use.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. Likewise, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be accurate. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
It can be somewhat challenging sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is part of a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be a lot more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in certain cases. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come with you
There are several considerable benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing test, though it’s not entirely necessary. Here are several of the most notable advantages:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more comprehensive information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a trusted friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. Be prepared for your results
It may be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing test. 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 even better, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. That could mean using some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or maybe hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!