You’re a really busy person, so it’s reasonable that you totally 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 a few hours 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 attempting to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. In other words, getting ready for your hearing exam is really about making sure you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Get prepared with these 7 tips!
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 may be more pronounced than others. So, before your appointment, it’s a good plan to start taking a few notes on when your hearing loss is most noticeable. You can write things down like:
- Do you find yourself losing focus during meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prevalent?
- Did you have a difficult time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you experience that it’s harder to hear at night than in the morning?
- When you’re out in a crowded restaurant, do you strain to keep up with conversations? If so, how often does that occur?
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Keep track of times when it’s harder to hear people than usual.
This type 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. Do some research on hearing aids
How much do you really know about hearing aids? It’s an important question because you don’t want to make any decisions influenced by what you presume. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be an ideal opportunity to ask educated questions.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are available and what your preferences might be can help speed along the process and help you get better information.
3. Review your medical history
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Write down your medical history before you visit us for your exam. Include major medical occurrences and also minor ones. Here are some examples:
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Medical devices you may currently be using.
- Sickness or diseases you’ve experienced that stand out in your mind.
- Major or minor surgeries that you have had.
4. Stay away from loud noises and noisy environments
If you have a hearing test 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 exam. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing exam. This will ensure the results are a reliable reflection of the current state of your hearing.
5. Before you come in, talk to your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… confusing. If your hearing loss is part of a medical problem, 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 figured out 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. Ask someone to come in with you
Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can offer numerous benefits. Here are some of the most prominent benefits:
- Even when you aren’t aware 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 information to help make a precise diagnosis or exam.
- 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 someone else is there with you.
7. Be ready for your results
It could be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But with a hearing test, that’s not the case. Similar to the bubble-sheet tests that were fed through the scantron machine when you were in college, you get your results right away.
And what’s even better, we’ll show you how to enhance your overall hearing health and walk you through what your results mean. That might mean using some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or possibly hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So, you won’t have to cram for your hearing test. But being prepared will be helpful, particularly for you.