You’re a really busy person, so it’s understandable that you totally forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So what should I do to get ready?
Hearing exams aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing test is really about.
Here are 7 easy ways to get prepped and ready!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms might be more dominant than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good idea to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. Some things you can write down include:
- Was it hard to hear the television? How loud is the volume? And do you experience that it’s more difficult to hear at night than in the morning?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Take note of times when understanding the person on the other end is more difficult.
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you strain to keep up with conversations? If so, how frequently does that occur?
- Do you find yourself losing focus in meetings at work? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
We find this type of information very helpful. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if you can. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Get some information about hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you might have heard someplace. A good opportunity to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are available and what your preferences may be can help speed up the process and help you get better answers.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another time when writing things down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-discussion. Write down your medical history before you come in for your assessment. This should include both major and minor situations. You should note things like:
- Medical equipment you might currently be using.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have had.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you attend a booming rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact the outcome. Likewise, 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 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 state of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance ahead of time
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what portions of your appointment will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is part of a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. 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 expect. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can provide several advantages. Here are several of the most notable benefits:
- Even when you aren’t aware that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will absolutely be aware of it. This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make a definitive diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Having a dependable friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the situation. 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 better yet, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. That could mean utilizing some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or perhaps hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But being prepared will be helpful, particularly for you.