You’re a fairly busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Fortunately, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need to stay up all night preparing 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. In other words, preparing for your hearing test 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
The symptoms of hearing impairment vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms may be more prominent than others. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before you come see us. You can write things down like:
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Keep track of times when it’s more difficult to hear people than normal.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? If so, how frequently does that occur?
- Was it difficult to hear the television? Do you have it turned way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
- Do you find yourself losing focus during meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prominent?
We find this kind of information very useful. If you can, note the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you may have picked up somewhere. If we tell you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be the perfect opportunity to ask informed questions.
You will get better information and the process will be accelerated when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Go over your medical history
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before your appointment, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Medical equipment you might presently use.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Stay away from loud noises and noisy environments
If you attend a booming rock concert the day before your hearing assessment, it’s going to impact the results Similarly, if you check-out 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 protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are accurate and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Consult your insurance beforehand
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what parts of your appointment will be covered by insurance. If your hearing impairment is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be a great deal more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. Otherwise, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody 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 provide several benefits. Here are several of the most prominent advantages:
- You’re likely to cover a lot of information during your appointment. Having a trusted 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 safe bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
7. Be prepared for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing test, that’s not the situation. With a hearing test, you will get the results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can improve your general hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!