You’re a really busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to prepare. So how should I get ready?
You won’t need to stay awake all night preparing 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 certain you don’t forget anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Here are 7 simple ways to get prepped and ready!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
Hearing loss doesn’t present the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms might be more prominent than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can jot things down like:
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Keep track of times when it’s harder to understand people than normal.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you strain to hear conversations? If so, how often does that occur?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prominent?
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? How loud is the volume? And do you experience that it’s more difficult to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
We find this kind of information very helpful. If you can, take note of the time and date these instances occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did happen.
2. Get some information about hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you may have heard somewhere. If we inform you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be a great moment to ask educated questions.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another instance when writing something down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. This should include both major and minor incidents. Here are some examples:
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have had.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
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 go to an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Talk to your insurance ahead of time
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… confusing. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in some cases. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask someone to come in with you
There are some important benefits to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are some of the most prominent benefits:
- You don’t always know 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 information to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be covered. When you get home, 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
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the situation with a hearing exam. With a hearing test, you will get the results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can enhance your general hearing health and help you understand the meaning of your results. That might mean utilizing some hearing protection or some behavioral changes or perhaps hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing test. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.