You’re a really busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. Thankfully, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about attempting to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. Essentially, preparing for your hearing exam is really about making certain you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. Make 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 take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. Some things you can list out include:
- Do you find yourself losing focus in meetings at work? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you struggle to hear conversations? If so, how often does that occur?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- Is talking on the phone difficult? Keep track of times when it’s more difficult to understand people than normal.
This type of information is very useful for us. Note the day and time of these symptoms if you can. 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. If we inform you a hearing aid would be beneficial, that’s would be the perfect time to ask educated questions.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are available and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Go over your medical history
This one will also help the process go faster after your appointment. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. This should include both major and minor situations. You should write down things like:
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you go to a booming rock concert the night before your hearing assessment, it’s going to impact the outcome. Likewise, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be correct. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, consult your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… confusing. 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 cases, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can present numerous advantages. Among the most prominent advantages are the following:
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a good bet your spouse or partner does! So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be covered. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information when you get home.
7. Be ready for your results
It could be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. Just like the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results right away.
And even better, we’ll help you understand what your results mean and how you can enhance your overall hearing health. That could mean using some ear protection or some behavioral changes or perhaps hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.