You’re a really 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 time to prepare. So how should I 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 a test. Getting ready 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.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
The symptoms of hearing impairment differ from person to person and at different times. There may be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more discreet. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to begin taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. You can jot things down like:
- Do you find yourself losing focus during meetings at work? Does this normally happen in the morning? All day?
- Was it hard to hear the tv? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s harder to understand people than normal.
- Did you have difficulty following a conversation while eating out in a crowded restaurant? If so, how frequently does that happen?
We find this type of information very useful. If you can, take note of the time and day these instances occurred. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How accurate 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. An ideal time to get some valid info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences may be can help speed up the process and help you get better answers.
3. Consider your medical past
This is another time when writing something down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-conversation. Before your appointment, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Medical devices you may currently be using.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have undergone.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy environments
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. Likewise, if you go to an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. The point here is that you need to avoid 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. Check with your insurance in advance
It can be a bit challenging sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is part of a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. It’s a good plan to get all of this squared away 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. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can offer several advantages. Among the most notable benefits are the following:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more information to help make a definitive diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
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 test, that’s not the case. With a hearing test, you will get the results right away.
And better yet, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. That could mean utilizing some ear protection or some lifestyle changes or perhaps hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!
