You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable 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 a few hours to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing tests aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking over your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing exam is really about.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
The symptoms of hearing loss differ from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. Some things you can list out include:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it turned way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Is it frustrating to carry on conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s harder to hear people than usual.
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- Did you have issues following a conversation while dining out in a packed restaurant? If so, how frequently does that happen?
We find this kind of information very useful. Note the day and time of these symptoms if possible. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Research hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have heard someplace. An ideal time to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would help 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 information.
3. Consider your medical past
This is another instance when writing things down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your appointment. Include major medical incidents and also minor ones. Here are some examples:
- What kind of medication you take.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Any history of illness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the results will be skewed. The results will be similarly skewed if you go to an airshow the day of your test. 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 a reliable reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Consult your insurance ahead of time
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… bewildering. If your hearing loss 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 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. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come in with you
There are several important advantages to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. amongst the most prominent advantages are the following:
- You don’t always recognize 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 precise 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 remembering all of the information we give you if someone else is there with you.
7. Be ready for your results
It may be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing exam, 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. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.
