How to Prepare for a Hearing Test
A big part of your first appointment at Discover Hearing is a hearing test. By understanding the health of your ears and hearing system, we can determine the options to help you hear better.
Here is what to expect during your hearing test appointment and what you can do to make the most out of your visit. If you're ready for a hearing test, book an appointment at Discover Hearing.
Why Hearing Tests are Essential
Hearing tests are the foundation for diagnosing and treating ear-related issues. The more we know about your ears and hearing system, the better decisions you can make.
The five main reasons to get a hearing test are:
Determine the state of your current hearing
Hearing tests will determine the state of your hearing system and if you have any hearing loss. We will play you various tones and speech sounds to determine how well you can hear and distinguish them.
The results from this test will help your clinician determine which sounds you do and do not hear well and the potential causes of your hearing loss. It's important to determine this information as early as possible because treatment can prevent further damage.
Get a hearing baseline
Your first hearing test will be a hearing baseline. Your baseline acts as a reference point to determine if you experience further hearing loss. It also provides us with a timeline for when your hearing loss started and the speed at which it's changing.
Understand how hearing loss impacts your life
Our hearing tests are designed to determine how hearing loss impacts your daily life. Hearing loss and its associated effects vary from person to person. For some people, the effects are obvious. For others, the effects may not be noticeable until they are identified (such as the effects of hearing loss on mental health).
Get information to make an informed decision
Just as there are many types of hearing loss, there are many hearing loss treatments. Your hearing test will allow your clinician to create a personalized treatment plan. Some common hearing loss treatments include therapy, assistive listening devices or hearing aids.
Be proactive with your health
Like other regular health checkups, hearing tests are important for maintaining overall health. Hearing loss often goes unnoticed, so regular hearing tests can identify potential issues sooner and prevent further damage.
Like other medical conditions, early diagnosis and treatment will produce the best outcomes for your health and well-being. Book a hearing test with us today so that we can address your hearing concerns.
Hearing Tests at Discover Hearing
The goals of your first appointment at Discover Hearing are to:
- Determine the type and degree of sounds you hear
- Understand how much speech you can comprehend
- If possible, identify the type and causes of your hearing loss
- Discuss how your hearing challenges impact your life
- Review your hearing goals
- Consider options for the next steps
Here's what you can expect when you come in for an audiometric evaluation at Discover Hearing:
- Meet with your hearing practitioner
- Discuss your hearing challenges with your practitioner
- Review your health history
- Discuss your lifestyle, hobbies, work and hearing goals
- Conduct audiometric assessments
- Review result and discuss options for next steps
Meet with your hearing practitioner
We recommend bringing a family member or friend with you. This additional person can not only provide your clinician with an additional perspective, but they can provide you with a better understanding of your visit.
Discuss your hearing challenges with your practitioner
We want you to be an active participant in your hearing health, and we encourage you to ask questions!
Review your health history
Your ears function in tandem with the rest of your body. Things like medications and head trauma can cause hearing loss, so it's important that your practitioner is aware of your entire medical history.
Discuss your lifestyle, hobbies, work and hearing goals
Our ultimate goal is to improve your quality of life. To do this, we need to understand how your hearing loss impacts your ability to function. Do you have trouble hearing what people are saying at a restaurant? Does your family complain that you turn the television volume up too loud? Questions like these help us understand your hearing needs.
Conduct audiometric assessments
Our comprehensive hearing evaluations determine if hearing loss is present and, if so, what type it is and how severe it is. Your hearing aid practitioner will use this information to create a custom treatment plan.
Review result and discuss options for next steps
Your hearing aid practitioner will explain which type of hearing loss you're experiencing, and they will provide you with the best treatment options.
How to Prepare for Your Hearing Test
Our hearing tests include audiometric evaluations followed by a discussion of how your hearing challenges impact your life. The more you tell us about your hearing and your lifestyle, the better options we can recommend that will make the biggest difference in your daily routine.
Here are questions to consider as you prepare for your appointment:
- Where do you notice challenges with your hearing? Consider places or situations where you find it annoying or difficult to hear.
- Ask your close family members or friends: have you noticed any places or situations where I struggle with my hearing? Sometimes, family members or friends notice hearing challenges before you do.
- When did you first notice hearing challenges? Or, when did you first consider getting a hearing test and why?
- What concerns do you have about the idea of wearing hearing aids? We may not recommend hearing aids, but if so, we want to understand your concerns so we can suggest the best technology.
What You Will Get from your Hearing Test
Hearing tests are an important first step towards treating hearing loss. They provide clarity on the state of your hearing and how perceivable and unperceivable hearing challenges impact your life. They present you with a better understanding of the causes and impacts of hearing loss, and they grant us options to improve your hearing.
You're not expected to make a decision right after your hearing test, but we'll leave you with as much information as possible. Book a hearing test with us today so that we can help you discover a solution for your hearing loss that's uniquely tailored to you.
