If you suspect you’re in the beginning stages of hearing loss, your first step toward hearing loss treatment is a hearing test. And just like any first step in a treatment journey, it can be nerve-wracking in the days leading up to your appointment. To help alleviate any of your worries and prepare you for this experience, we’ve compiled a guide of things you can do to prepare for your first audiology appointment.
Talk to a Loved One
Humans are social creatures, and hearing loss is intrinsically tied to communication. Because of this, it’s only natural to seek support from your friends and loved ones. To that end, it’s healthy to talk out any emotions you might be feeling as you anticipate your first audiology appointment. Share how you’re feeling honestly.
Additionally, you can bring a loved one with you to your appointment. In fact, we encourage you to do so! Having someone nearby during this appointment can help you feel more at ease and more confident. Some research even suggests that hearing loss treatment is more successful if a loved one, such as a significant other, comes to your appointments with you.
What to Bring
In addition to bringing a supportive person with you, bring a notebook or another note-taking device (such as an app on your phone) so you can jot down information you and your audiologist discuss. In all likelihood, you and your audiologist will cover a lot of information, and it can be difficult to remember everything, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed already. Taking notes will help with this.
Think About What You Want
You may not be aware of this, but there are several different styles of hearing aids out there. Models range from behind-the-ear to nearly invisible in-the-ear. Each of these styles has their own strengths and weaknesses, so your options might depend on the results of your hearing test and the severity of your hearing loss, but it might help you feel more prepared if you have an idea in your mind what style of hearing aid you might like to wear.
What to Expect at the Appointment
The appointment itself will have three main parts: the initial consultation, the hearing test and the evaluation.
During the initial consultation, your audiologist will gather data about you, your hearing health and your lifestyle. You’ll discuss the symptoms you’ve noticed, your work, hobbies, medical history, family history of hearing loss and many other topics that might relate, directly or indirectly, to your hearing health. Next, you’ll do the hearing test. This takes place in a soundproof room. You’ll wear headphones through which you’ll hear a series of beeps at various pitches and volumes, and you’ll indicate to the audiologist when you hear a beep.
Using what you discussed and the results of the hearing test, your audiologist will then lead the evaluation. At this stage, you’ll go over your hearing test results (you get results immediately!) and discuss your options for treatment. Your hearing loss treatment journey has officially begun.
If you have any more questions about what to expect before your audiology appointment, call us and we’ll be happy to help.