Getting the Most out of Your Hearing Test: A Detailed Guide

How do you prepare for a hearing test? While hearing tests can help the audiologist diagnose your hearing loss, the results might not reveal much about your lifestyle needs. Finding the right hearing device for you involves understanding both your hearing loss and your unique lifestyle and interests.

To make the most of your visit, it’s a good idea to learn about different types of hearing aids before going to the audiologist’s office. This way, you can have an informed discussion about the available options and share your preferences. This not only fosters a collaborative conversation but also gives the audiologist valuable insights into the type of device that suits your liking, helping them find a model that fits your specific needs.

Call if You’re Feeling Sick

If you find yourself under the weather, it’s crucial to inform your audiologist, and in many instances, rescheduling might be advisable. Taking the time to rest and recover is not only essential for your overall well-being but also critical for the accuracy of the hearing test. Illnesses such as the common cold, which induce congestion in the head and sinuses, can significantly impact the test results. The changes in pressure and fluid levels in both the middle ear and face can interfere with the precision of the assessment, potentially leading to inaccurate readings. Notifying your audiologist about your health condition ensures a more effective and comfortable testing experience, allowing for accurate results that reflect your true auditory capabilities.

Avoid Excessive Levels of Noise

Exposure to loud noises can impact the results of your hearing test. For instance, going to a loud concert the day before your hearing test is not advised. You want to typically stay away from loud noises and noisy settings before your hearing exam. Otherwise, you may not get accurate results from the text. Excessive levels of noise are a leading causing of hearing loss, so you may want to avoid too much exposure to them in the first place. Tinnitus is another common byproduct of noise exposure, leading to ringing, buzzing or whistling sounds in the ears. You can ensure you are taking proactive measures to protect your hearing by:

• Use ear protection like earplugs or earmuffs
• Keep electronic device volumes moderate
• Be mindful of everyday loud noises
• Take breaks in quiet spaces
• Minimize exposure to constant background noise

Get Your Medical Information Ready

Take the time to get your medical records and to gather what medical information you can. If you can get your notes and information in chronological order, that can be even more useful. This medical info, including any relevant medical documents, can be useful to your audiologist. Aside from making them aware of any steps they may need to take to make the hearing test more comfortable and safer for you, there could be aspects of your medical history or ongoing symptoms that could give them an indication of any underlying hearing or ear health issues worth taking a closer look at.

Know What to Expect

Hearing tests usually are really straightforward, but you might feel more comfortable knowing what to expect. Usually, they start with a round of questions, often about your medical history, any symptoms or signs of hearing health changes, as well as relevant questions about your lifestyle, such as where you work and what hobbies you do. Following that, there is likely to be a physical examination of the ear, where the audiologist might pick up on any issues like earwax impactions or fluid buildup.

The hearing test typically comes next and can involve you sitting in a booth where the audiologist plays noises, tones and words of various pitches. You will be expected to respond one way or another when you hear them and, based on this, the audiologist will complete an audiogram. This is a diagram that allows them to show and diagnose any hearing loss. There may be some other tests that an audiologist can perform, based on symptoms they notice, like tympanometry to test the acoustic response of the ear, but these are not as common.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Whether you want to know more about the hearing testing process or simply want more information about hearing aids, you can give the team at Two Rivers Hearing a call at (321) 499-2488. Our staff will be happy to talk to you about what you can expect during your first appointment or any other concerns you may have.