You completely forgot your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’ve been very busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about attempting to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing exam is really about.
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 might be more dominant than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can write things down like:
- Did you have difficulty following a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? If so, how often does that occur?
- Is it challenging to have conversations on the phone? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is harder.
- Did you have a hard 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 in meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
This type of information is really useful for us. If you can, note the time and day these instances occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Research 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 picked up someplace. If we tell you a hearing aid would be beneficial, that’s going to be the perfect opportunity to ask informed questions.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before you come in, you should take a little time to write down your medical history. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Any history of illness or health problems (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medical devices you may currently use.
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy environments
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the results will be skewed. Likewise, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, 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 help ensure your results are accurate and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Check with your insurance ahead of time
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… perplexing. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. In some cases, 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. 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 offer numerous benefits. 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! So our exam and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- You’re likely to cover a lot of information at your appointment. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if someone else is there with you.
7. Be prepared for your results
It may be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. With a hearing exam, you will get the results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing exam. But being prepared will be helpful, particularly for you.