You completely spaced your hearing test tomorrow, but that’s not very surprising, you’re really busy. Thankfully, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have some time to get ready. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like back 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 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 test is really about.
Here are 7 simple ways to get yourself prepped and ready!
1. Make a list of your symptoms (and when they manifest)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. Some symptoms may be more pronounced than others. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before you come see us. You can write things down like:
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you strain to hear conversations? Does that happen frequently?
- Is it challenging to carry on conversations on the phone? Keep track of times when it’s more difficult to understand people than usual.
- Was it hard to hear the television? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
We find this kind of information very helpful. If you can, note the time and day these instances occurred. If you can’t, just remember that they did happen.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How much do you actually know about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions based on false information you might have heard somewhere. An ideal opportunity to get some valid 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. Think about your medical past
This is another instance when writing things down can help speed up the post-hearing-test-conversation. Write down your medical history before you come in for your exam. Write down major medical occurrences and also minor ones. You should note things like:
- Operations you’ve undergone, both major or minor.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Medications you’re currently taking.
- Any history of sickness or health problems (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that stands out).
- Any medical equipment you use.
4. Loud noisy settings should be shunned
If you attend a loud rock concert the night before your hearing test, it’s going to impact the results The results will be similarly impacted if you go to an airshow the day of your test. The point here is that you should steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reveal your current hearing health.
5. Before your appointment, talk to your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… bewildering. Some plans may cover your hearing assessment, particularly if it’s related to a medical disorder. But not all plans will. It’s a good idea to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can expect. We can also help you in certain instances. If not, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Bring a friend or family member in with you
There are several significant 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:
- Even when you can’t tell that you have hearing loss, people close to you will certainly be aware of it. So our exam and diagnosis will be based on much deeper and more detailed information.
- When you’re at your appointment, 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 someone else is there with you.
7. The results will come fairly quickly
It could be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the situation. 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 help you understand what your results mean and how you can enhance your general hearing health. That might mean using some hearing protection or some behavioral changes or perhaps hearing aids. You’ll know immediately either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing test. But it is helpful, mostly for you, to be prepared!