You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. Thankfully, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So… what should you do?
You won’t have to stay awake all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Preparing for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making sure you don’t forget anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing exam is really about.
Here are 7 simple ways to get prepped and ready!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing loss 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 plan to begin taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most pronounced. Some things you can list out include:
- Was it hard to hear the tv? 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? Does this normally occur in the morning? All day?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is harder.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? Does that happen frequently?
This type of information is very useful for us. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did occur.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have heard somewhere. If we tell you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be an ideal time to ask educated questions.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are available and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better information.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another instance when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you come in for your appointment. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are a few examples:
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have undergone.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. Likewise, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be correct. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing test. This will ensure the results are a correct reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, check with your insurance company
It can be a bit challenging sorting out what parts of your appointment will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is part of a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. It’s a good plan 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 insurance answers. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
There are some significant benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. Among 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 exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more comprehensive information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Having a trusted friend or family member with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. Be prepared for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it could be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the situation with a hearing exam. With a hearing exam, you will get the results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to improve your overall hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.
