You totally spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not really unusual, you’re very busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have a few hours 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. Preparing for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making sure you’re not forgetting anything. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing test is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
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, before you come in, it’s a good idea to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. Some things you can list out include:
- Did you have trouble making out a conversation while eating out in a crowded restaurant? Does that occur frequently?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you experience that it’s more difficult to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration during meetings at work? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
This type of information is really useful for us. If you can, take note of the time and day these symptoms occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Get some information about hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have heard someplace. If we tell you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s going to be a great opportunity to ask informed questions.
You will get better information and the process will be expedited when you know what types of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Go over your medical history
This is another moment when writing something down can help quicken the post-hearing-test-conversation. Before you come in, you should take some time to jot down your medical history. This should include both major and minor incidents. You should write down things like:
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have had.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve had that stick out in your mind.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical equipment you might presently use.
4. Avoid loud sounds and noisy settings
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. The results will be similarly skewed if you attend an airshow the day of your test. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing assessment. This will ensure the results are a reliable reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, consult your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… perplexing. If your hearing loss is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. It’s a good plan to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can expect. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
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 offer several advantages. Here are several of the most notable advantages:
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. When you get home, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
- 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 an accurate diagnosis or exam.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your results. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the case. With a hearing exam, you will get the results right away.
And even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can improve your overall hearing health. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some hearing protection. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you don’t have to cram for your hearing exam. But being prepared will be helpful, particularly for you.