You’re a really busy person, so it’s understandable that you totally forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Fortunately, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing tests 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 test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. In other words, preparing for your hearing exam is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared using these 7 tips!
1. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they happen)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms might be more pronounced than others. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before you come see us. Some things you can list out include:
- Was it hard to hear the television? How high is the volume? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Did you have trouble hearing a conversation while eating out in a packed restaurant? Does that occur a lot?
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? Does this normally happen in the morning? All day?
This type of information is really useful for us. If you can, note the time and date these instances occurred. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Do some research on hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you think you know. An ideal opportunity to get some accurate info is when we inform you that hearing aids would benefit you.
You will get better answers and the process will be expedited when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Review your medical history
This is another moment when writing things down can help hasten the post-hearing-test-discussion. Write down your medical history before you come in for your exam. This should include both major and minor incidents. Here are some examples:
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
- Medical devices you may currently use.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stick out in your mind.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy environments should be avoided
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you attend a loud concert the night before, the results will be impacted. Similarly, if you go to an airshow the morning before your test, 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 state of your hearing.
5. Check with your insurance in advance
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is part of a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. But not all plans will. You will be far more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. We can also help you in certain situations. Otherwise, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come in with you
There are some considerable advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are some of the most prominent advantages:
- You don’t always know 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 based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your exam, a lot of information will be discussed. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time remembering all of the information we give you if somebody else is there with you.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It may be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the situation with a hearing test. Just like the bubble-sheet tests that got fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how you can enhance your general hearing health and help you understand what your results mean. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. You’ll know immediately either way.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!