Before your hearing test takes place your audiologist will talk to you about any problems you may have with your hearing. This conversation can be just as important as the actual hearing test as it will give your audiologist an idea of what to expect from your test and what your results will mean for you.
When You First Noticed Changes
The Audiologist will ask when you first noticed the problem with your hearing and when and where the hearing loss is noticed most. The examples above have been included to give the reader some examples of when and where hearing loss is noticed and how it has developed over time. It may have got worse over a few years or it may have got worse suddenly after a cold or a loud noise. Sometimes people can describe when the problem with their hearing got worse over time and sometimes they can only describe when it got worse suddenly.
Your History of Noise Exposure
The beeps and test sounds are just the beginning of the hearing assessment process. Your audiologist will require you to provide a full noise exposure history, including time spent in noisy environments at work, hobbies and also when listening to music. Even noise exposure that has been experienced many years previously needs to be disclosed as certain patterns of hearing loss that occur in later life can be explained by previous noise exposure.
Your Medical History and Medications
You will also be asked about your current medicines, some can affect your hearing. There are some antibiotics, some types of cancer treatment and high doses of aspirin that are known to affect hearing. It would help to write down a list of all the medicines you are currently taking and bring them with you to your appointment. Some long term health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can also affect your hearing and the audiologist may ask about your history of these conditions.
Whether Hearing Loss Runs in Your Family
It’s also worth knowing whether there’s been any hearing loss in your family, as some types of hearing loss are genetic and can affect people at a younger age. Even if you’re not sure of the details of your relatives’ hearing loss, a general sense of whether there’s been any hearing problems in your family is usually enough. This helps the audiologist to determine whether your hearing loss is due to inherited reasons or whether it’s as a result of noise, age, etc. See also Hearing Test Cheltenham.
Any Ear-Related Symptoms You’ve Had
As your audiologist is likely to test for a variety of ear related health problems, even if you come in for hearing loss, it’s best to mention any symptoms you have had recently or in the past. Tinnitus, earache, discharge and dizziness are all common and can be caused by a variety of different things. Some may even need to be tested for before you have your hearing tested, so it’s best to be upfront about any problems you are currently experiencing. Even minor problems such as occasional ringing in the ears or feeling of pressure in one ear, should be mentioned. It’s also worth mentioning if you have had your earwax cleaned recently or have had an ear infection. Both of these can affect your test results temporarily.
How It Affects Your Daily Life
The different times and places where you find yourself struggling to hear. Whether you are finding background noise in restaurants to be too much, missing announcements, failing to hear the door bell or answering phone calls only to find you have to ring back because you did not quite catch what was said. All of these scenarios will help the audiologist understand the impact your hearing is having and the different situations in which you find yourself struggling. So even the smallest of problems and scenarios that seem to happen only occasionally can be of greatest value.
What You’re Hoping to Get From the Visit
It’s useful to have some idea of what you want from the assessment. Some people just want to be told that there is nothing wrong with their hearing and others want a definitive diagnosis of a hearing loss and an explanation of its causes. Many people are keen to discuss hearing aid options. It’s best to be honest about your needs and the audiologist can then direct the assessment in the most appropriate way. Make sure that the person assessing your hearing is a registered and regulated hearing care provider as there can be large differences in the quality and type of assessment and subsequent advice given by different providers.
A Few Practical Things to Remember
Notes from previous appointments can be really useful to refer back to. For information on local support for health and social care in Gloucestershire, visit the council’s website. And remember, hearing care providers have to adhere to the same rules as other advertisers regarding health and hearing services. This means that any test or assessment of your hearing and the subsequent results will be described honestly and clearly by your chosen clinic or practice.
Understanding your hearing problem before you go to the appointment is key to getting the most out of your test. The more information you can bring to the appointment the better it will be for you and the audiologist.
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