You completely spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very unusual, you’re really busy. It’s a good thing we sent you a reminder text so you should have time to prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t need to stay awake all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. Getting ready for a hearing test is more about thinking through your symptoms and making certain you’re not forgetting anything. In other words, getting ready for your hearing test is really about making certain 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. Create a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms might be more prominent than others. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. Some things you can write down include:
- Is it a challenge to have conversations on the phone? Note times when understanding the person on the other end is harder.
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Did you have issues following a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? If so, how frequently does that happen?
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? How high is the volume? And do you notice that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
We find this type of information very helpful. If you can, take note of the time and day these symptoms occurred. At least observe the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Research hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you may have picked up someplace. If we inform you a hearing aid would be beneficial, that’s going to be the perfect time to ask informed questions.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and determine what your preferences are.
3. Go over your medical history
This is another instance when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-discussion. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. This should include both major and minor situations. Here are a few examples:
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Any history of sickness or health problems (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medical devices you might currently be using.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
4. Loud noisy settings should be avoided
If you have a hearing assessment scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. The results will be similarly impacted if you attend an airshow the day of your test. You can see where we’re going with this: you want to safeguard your ears from loud noises before your hearing exam. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Talk to your insurance in advance
The way that health insurance and hearing tests interact can be… bewildering. Some plans may cover your hearing exam, especially if it’s related to a medical condition. But not all plans will. You will be much more confident at your appointment if you get this all figured out before you come in. In some situations, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask someone to come in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can provide several advantages. Here are some of the most prominent advantages:
- You’re likely to cover a lot of info during your exam. Later, after the appointment, you will have an easier time recalling all of the information we give you if someone else is there with you.
- Even when you aren’t aware that you have hearing impairment, people close to you will absolutely be aware of it. So our test and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more detailed information.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It may be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing test, that’s not the situation. Similar to the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results immediately.
And better yet, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can enhance your overall hearing health. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it right away.
So you don’t have to overthink it. But being ready will be helpful, especially for you.