You’re a really busy person, so it’s understandable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. It’s a good thing we sent out a reminder text so you should have 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 pull an all-nighter to study for a test. With a hearing exam, it’s more about attempting to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as you can.
Here are 7 easy ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. Some symptoms might be more dominant than others. So, before you come in, it’s a good idea to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can write things down like:
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it turned way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- When you’re in meetings at work, do you lose focus? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- When you’re out in a busy restaurant, do you struggle to keep up with conversations? If so, how frequently does that take place?
We find this kind of information very useful. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if you can. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t remember the times.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have heard somewhere. A good opportunity to get some accurate 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. Go over your medical history
This one will also help the process go smoother after your appointment. Before your appointment, you should take some time to write down your medical history. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should write down things like:
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical devices you may presently use.
- Any history of sickness or health problems (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Medication interactions and allergies.
4. Loud noisy environments should be shunned
If you have a hearing exam scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be impacted. The results will be similarly impacted if you go to an airshow the day of your exam. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will ensure the results are an accurate reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Talk to your insurance beforehand
It can be a bit confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. Some plans may cover your hearing test, especially if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. You will be a great deal more confident at your appointment if you get this all squared away before you come in. We can also help you in some cases. If we can’t, you will have to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Ask somebody to come in with you
There are several important benefits to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not entirely necessary. amongst the most prominent benefits are the following:
- You don’t always detect when your hearing isn’t working right but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
- When you’re at your appointment, a lot of information will be discussed. 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.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It might be days or even weeks before you get the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing test. With a hearing exam, you will get the results immediately.
And even better, we’ll walk you through what your results mean and how you can enhance your overall hearing health. Perhaps that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your lifestyle, or some hearing protection. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!
