You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s reasonable 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 I do to get ready?
Hearing tests aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for a test. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam 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. Create 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 might be more pronounced than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most pronounced. Some things you can list out include:
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you strain to hear conversations? Does that occur a lot?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Keep track of times when it’s harder to understand people than usual.
- 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 difficult time hearing the TV? How high is the volume? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
We find this type of information very useful. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if you can. If you can’t, just note that they did happen.
2. Get some info 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 influenced by what you think you know. If we tell you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s would be an ideal time to ask educated questions.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are available and what your preferences may be can help speed along the process and help you get better information.
3. Consider your medical past
This one will also help the process go smoother after diagnosis. Before you come in, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medical equipment you might presently use.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Any history of illness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. The results will be similarly impacted if you go to an airshow the day of your exam. The point here is that you should avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Talk to your insurance in advance
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans might cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s related to a medical condition. But not all plans will. It’s a good idea to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask someone to come with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can offer several advantages. Here are some of the most notable advantages:
- You’re likely to go over a lot of info at your appointment. Having a dependable friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more comprehensive information.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the situation. With a hearing test, you will get the results right away.
And even better, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!