You’re a really busy person, so it’s reasonable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So how should I get ready?
You won’t have to stay awake all night preparing for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Preparing for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making certain you don’t forget anything. In other words, preparing for your hearing test is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t present 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 plan to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most pronounced. Some things you can write down include:
- Did you have difficulty hearing a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? Does that happen frequently?
- Was it hard to hear the television? How loud is the volume? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prominent?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Monitor times when it’s more difficult to hear people than normal.
This type of information is very useful for us. If you can, note the time and day these instances occurred. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Research 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. If we inform you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be an ideal moment to ask informed questions.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you come in for your appointment. This should include both major and minor incidents. Here are a few examples:
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical equipment you might currently be using.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you go to a loud rock concert the day before your hearing assessment, it’s going to affect the results The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your test. The point here is that you need to avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… perplexing. If your hearing impairment is part of a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans may not. It’s a good idea to get all of this squared away before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. We can also help you in some instances. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come with you
There are some significant advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing test, though it’s not absolutely necessary. amongst the most prominent benefits are the following:
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info at your exam. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
7. Be prepared for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the situation with a hearing exam. Similar to the bubble-sheet tests that got fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can enhance your overall hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!