You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s reasonable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Luckily, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So what should I do to get ready?
You won’t have to stay awake all night preparing for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. Getting the most out of your time with us is what getting ready for your hearing exam is really about.
Here are 7 easy ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. Some symptoms might be more prominent than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good idea to begin taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. Some things you can list out include:
- Did you have issues hearing a conversation while eating out in a packed restaurant? If so, how frequently does that take place?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration during meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Record times when it’s harder to understand people than usual.
- Was it hard to hear the television? 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?
This kind of information is really useful for us. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if possible. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you think you know. If we inform you a hearing aid would be helpful, that’s would be a great opportunity to ask informed questions.
You will get better answers and the process will be expedited when you know what types of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another instance when writing something down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you come in for your assessment. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Any medical apparatuses you use.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you attend a booming rock concert the night before your hearing assessment, it’s going to affect the results The results will be similarly skewed if you go to an airshow the day of your exam. 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 correct reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Check with your insurance ahead of time
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is related to a medical problem, some insurance plans will cover it. But other plans might not. It’s a good idea to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get answers about insurance. 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 strictly necessary, but it can present numerous advantages. Among the most notable advantages are the following:
- 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 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! So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more comprehensive information.
7. Be prepared for your results
It might be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the situation with a hearing exam. With a hearing exam, you will get the results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can improve your general hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. That might mean utilizing some ear protection or some behavioral changes or maybe hearing aids. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!