You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s understandable that you totally 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 prepare. So… what should you do?
You won’t have to stay awake all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing exam, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. Essentially, getting ready for your hearing test is really about making sure you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Here are 7 simple ways to get prepped and ready!
1. Put together a list of your symptoms (and when they occur)
The symptoms of hearing loss vary from person to person and at different times. There might be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more discreet. So, before you come in, it’s a good plan to start taking some notes on when your hearing loss is most significant. You can write things down like:
- Do you find yourself losing focus in meetings at work? Does this normally occur in the morning? All day?
- Is it frustrating to have conversations on the phone? Note times when hearing the person on the other end is more difficult.
- Was it difficult to hear the television? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Did you have issues making out a conversation while dining out in a busy restaurant? Does that occur a lot?
This kind of information is really useful for us. Take note of the day and time of these symptoms if possible. At least note the occurrence of the symptoms if you can’t record the times.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you presume. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s would be an ideal opportunity to ask informed questions.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what types of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This is another instance when writing something down can help quicken the post-hearing-test-discussion. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. Include major medical incidents and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Surgeries you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Medical devices you might currently use.
- Any history of illness or health problems (you don’t need to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
4. Loud noisy settings should be shunned
If you attend a booming rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to skew the outcome. Similarly, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your test, the results will not be accurate. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Consult your insurance ahead of time
It can be somewhat confusing sorting out what parts of your visit will be covered by insurance. If your hearing loss is related to a medical condition, some insurance plans will cover it. 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. In some instances, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. If we can’t, you will need to speak directly with your insurance company.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
There are some important advantages to bringing a friend or relative with you to your hearing test, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are several of the most prominent advantages:
- You’re likely to cover a lot of information at your appointment. Having a trusted friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing loss, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. This means that we will have access to even more insight to help make an accurate diagnosis or exam.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
With many medical diagnostics, it may be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But that’s not the case with a hearing exam. Just like the bubble-sheet tests that got 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 lifestyle, or some ear protection. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t need to cram for your hearing exam. But being ready will be helpful, particularly for you.