You’re a pretty busy person, so it’s reasonable that you completely forgot about the hearing test you have scheduled for tomorrow. Luckily, you just received that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to get ready. So how should I get ready?
You won’t have to stay up all night cramming for a hearing test like you did in school the night before a big exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know regarding your symptoms. In other words, 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. List out all of your symptoms and when you experience them
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everybody all the time. There may be some symptoms that are apparent and others that are more subtle. So take a few notes on when your symptoms are most noticeable before your appointment. You can write things down like:
- 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.
- Did you have a hard time hearing the TV? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you experience that it’s more difficult to hear later in the evening than in the morning?
- Do you find yourself losing concentration in meetings at work? What time during the day is this most prominent?
- Did you have difficulty hearing a conversation while dining out in a packed restaurant? Does that occur frequently?
This kind of information is extremely useful for us. If you can, note the time and date these instances occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did occur.
2. Get some info about hearing aids
How accurate is your knowledge about hearing aids? It’s a relevant question because you don’t want to make any decisions based on what you think you know. A good opportunity to get some valid info is when we advise you that hearing aids would benefit you.
You will get better answers and the process will be accelerated when you know what kinds of hearing devices are available and understand what your preferences are.
3. Think about your medical past
This one will also help the process go faster after diagnosis. Before you come in, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. This should consist of both major and minor incidents. You should note things like:
- Medical equipment you might currently use.
- Illness or diseases you’ve had that stand out in your mind.
- What kind of medication you take.
- Medication interactions and allergies.
- Surgeries you’ve had, both major or minor.
4. Stay away from loud sounds and noisy environments
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. Similarly, if you check-out an airshow the morning before your exam, the results will not be reliable. 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 a reliable reflection of the current health of your hearing.
5. Check with your insurance beforehand
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… confusing. If your hearing loss is part of 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 situations, you can work directly with us to get insurance answers. Otherwise, you can speak to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come in with you
Bringing a loved one or trusted friend with you to a hearing appointment isn’t strictly necessary, but it can offer several benefits. Here are several of the most prominent advantages:
- You’re likely to go over a lot of information at your exam. Having a dependable friend or loved one with you can help you remember all of that information later.
- You don’t always recognize when your hearing isn’t functioning correctly but it’s a safe bet your spouse or partner does! So our test and diagnosis will be determined by much deeper and more detailed information.
7. Be ready for your results
With many medical diagnostics, it might be days or weeks before you get your diagnosis. But with a hearing exam, that’s not the case. 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 general hearing health. That could mean using some hearing protection or some lifestyle changes or maybe hearing aids. You’ll know rather quickly either way.
So there’s no need to overthink it. But being prepared will be helpful, especially for you.