You completely forgot your hearing exam tomorrow, but that’s not very unusual, you’re very busy. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like those days in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. With a hearing exam, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. In other words, preparing for your hearing exam is really about making sure you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. 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. Some things you can list out include:
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- During meetings at work, do you lose focus? Does this tend to occur in the morning? All day?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you strain to hear conversations? Does that occur a lot?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a more difficult time hearing at night?
This kind 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 happen.
2. Get some information about 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 presume. An ideal opportunity to get some valid info is when we advise you that hearing aids would benefit you.
Knowing what types of hearing devices are available and what your preferences might be can help speed up the process and help you get better information.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another moment when writing things down can help quicken 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. Here are a few examples:
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Operations you’ve had, both major or minor.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical equipment you might presently be using.
- Any history of illness or disease (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy environments
If you go to a booming rock concert the day before your hearing test, it’s going to affect the results Likewise, if you go to an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be accurate. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to protect your ears from loud noises before your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are a reliable reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, check with your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… bewildering. Some plans might cover your hearing test, particularly if it’s part of a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be a lot more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask someone to come with you
There are some considerable advantages to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing test, though it’s not absolutely necessary. amongst the most prominent benefits 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! So our exam and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- 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.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it may 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 immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can enhance your general hearing health and walk you through the meaning of your results. That could mean utilizing some ear protection or some behavioral changes or possibly hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you won’t need to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!