You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not really surprising, you’re really busy. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to get ready. So what should I do to 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 an exam. Preparing 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 test is really about.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
1. Put together a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing impairment vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms might be more prominent 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. Some things you can write down include:
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Monitor times when it’s harder to understand people than usual.
- Do you find yourself losing concentration during meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Did you have issues following a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? Does that occur frequently?
- 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?
This kind of information is really useful for us. 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 record the times.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you may have heard someplace. If we tell you a hearing aid would be beneficial, that’s would be the perfect moment to ask educated questions.
You will get better information and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Go over your medical history
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 consist of both major and minor situations. You should note things like:
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
4. Avoid loud noises and noisy settings
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. The results will be similarly skewed if you go to an airshow the day of your exam. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what portions of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, especially if it’s part of a medical condition. 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 look forward to. We can also help you in certain cases. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask someone to come 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. amongst the most notable advantages are the following:
- You don’t always detect 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 based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But that’s not the case 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 even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. That might mean using some ear protection or some behavioral changes or maybe hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!
