You’re a pretty 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 you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So how should I get ready?
You won’t have to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing exam, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. Getting the most out of your time with us is what preparing for your hearing test is really about.
Here are 7 easy ways to get prepped and ready!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. There might 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 noticeable. You can jot things down like:
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is harder.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you strain to keep up with conversations? Does that happen frequently?
- Was it hard to hear the television? Do you have it turned way up? And do you experience that it’s more difficult to hear at night than in the morning?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
We find this type of information very useful. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if you can. At least note 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 an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you think you know. If we tell you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s would be an ideal opportunity to ask educated questions.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Review your medical history
This one will also help the process go faster after your appointment. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. This should include both major and minor incidents. You should write down things like:
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Any medical equipment you use.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you attend a booming rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact the results The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your exam. 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 reliable reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before your appointment, consult your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… confusing. If your hearing loss is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in some cases. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
There are several important benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. Among the most prominent advantages are the following:
- You’re likely to go over a lot of information during your appointment. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make an accurate diagnosis or exam.
7. Be prepared for your results
It could 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 even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some ear protection. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.