You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally forgot about the hearing exam 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 need to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Getting ready for a hearing exam is more about thinking over your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when they manifest
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. 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 hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you notice that it’s more difficult to hear at night than in the morning?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Take note of times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
- Did you have difficulty making out a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? Does that happen a lot?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
We find this kind of information very helpful. 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 information about hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you presume. A good time to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are available 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 moment when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Before you come in, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Medical equipment you may currently be using.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy environments
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. Similarly, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. The point here is that you should avoid loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… bewildering. Some plans might cover your hearing exam, especially if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be a lot more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can provide several benefits. Among the most notable advantages are the following:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a safe 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.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time remembering all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
7. Be ready for your results
It may be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case 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 you can improve your general hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So, you won’t need to cram for your hearing test. But being prepared will be helpful, particularly for you.
