You’re a really busy person, so it’s reasonable that you completely forgot about the hearing exam you have scheduled for tomorrow. Thankfully, you just got that reminder text from us, and you still have a few hours to prepare. So… what should you do?
Hearing exams aren’t like back in college or high school where you’d have to stay up all night to study for an exam. With a hearing test, it’s more about trying to remember everything you need to know about your symptoms. In other words, preparing for your hearing test is really about ensuring you get as much out of your time with us as possible.
Here are 7 easy ways to get prepped and ready!
1. Put together a list of your symptoms (and when they occur)
Hearing loss doesn’t manifest the same way for everyone all the time. There may be some symptoms that are obvious and others that are more subtle. So take some notes on when your symptoms are most pronounced before your appointment. Some things you can write down include:
- Is having phone conversations difficult? Take note of times when hearing the person on the other end is harder.
- Do you find yourself losing concentration during meetings at work? Does this tend to happen in the morning? All day?
- Was it hard to hear the television? Do you have it cranked way up? And do you have a harder time hearing at night?
- Did you have trouble following a conversation while dining out in a crowded restaurant? If so, how frequently does that take place?
We find this type of information very useful. If you can, note the time and day these instances occurred. If you can’t, just note that they did happen.
2. Get some information about hearing aids
How complete is your knowledge about hearing aids? You don’t want to make any decisions founded on false information you might have heard somewhere. If we inform you a hearing aid would be worthwhile, that’s going to be an ideal moment to ask informed questions.
Knowing what kinds of hearing devices are out there and what your preferences may be can help speed along the process and help you get better answers.
3. Go over your medical history
This one will also help the process go smoother after your appointment. Before your appointment, you should take a little time to jot down your medical history. This should include both major and minor incidents. You should note things like:
- Major or minor surgical procedures that you have undergone.
- Allergies and reactions to medications.
- Medical equipment you might currently use.
- Any history of sickness or disease (you don’t have to note every cold, but anything that sticks out).
- What kind of medication you take.
4. Loud noisy settings should be shunned
If you have a hearing test scheduled and you go to a loud concert the night before, the outcome will be skewed. The results will be similarly skewed if you go to an airshow the day of your test. The point here is that you need to steer clear of loud noises before you come in for your hearing test. This will help ensure your results are reliable and reflect your current hearing health.
5. Before you come in, check with your insurance company
The way that health insurance and hearing tests work together can be… confusing. Some plans may cover your hearing exam, particularly if it’s part of a medical condition. But not all plans will. It’s a good plan to get all of this figured out before your appointment, so you’re more confident about what you can look forward to. We can also help you in some instances. If not, you can talk to your insurance company directly.
6. Ask somebody to come with you
There are some significant benefits to bringing a relative or friend with you to your hearing exam, though it’s not absolutely necessary. Here are several of the most notable benefits:
- You don’t always know 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.
- 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. Be ready for your results
It could be days or even weeks before you receive the results of many medical diagnostics. But that’s not the case with a hearing test. With a hearing test, you will get the 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. Maybe that’s a hearing aid, maybe it’s some changes to your behavior, or some ear protection. Either way, you’ll know it immediately.
So, you don’t need to cram for your hearing exam. But it is helpful, mainly for you, to be prepared!