Are You Ready For Your First Hearing Test?

If you’re thinking more about how to protect your hearing as you get a little older, then you might have made an appointment for a hearing test or be thinking about getting one soon. There’s nothing to fear from a hearing test, but there is a little extra you can do to get ready for yours. Here, we’re looking at some of the steps to help you best prepare.

Try not to expose your ears to loud noises

In most cases, your hearing test is going to involve an exam that tests the range of your hearing, by having noises and speech played at a variety of tones, pitches, and background noise levels to see how clearly you can hear each. Exposure to loud noise can, even temporarily, decrease your hearing range. As such, you should avoid any overly loud work, hobbies or environments for up to sixteen hours before the test or else it could throw it off.

Treat that earwax

There’s nothing inherently wrong with having earwax. We all do. However, earwax buildups, while not necessarily something to worry about, can get in the way of a hearing test. First of all, if you have a bad buildup, it could be the reason that you’re experiencing temporary hearing loss in the first place. However, even if the buildup isn’t bad enough to cause hearing loss, if you have a lot of earwax, your hearing health professional might want to delay the test until they can clear it out (which might cost extra) so you should consider using an ear cleaning kit ahead of the appointment.

Don’t go if you’re not feeling well

Illnesses that lead to a buildup of mucus, such as the cold, the flu, or allergies, are going to make it much harder to get accurate results in your hearing tests. The inner ear canals and eardrums are affected by mucus and you might even experience temporary hearing loss as a result of feeling a little unwell. If you’re starting to feel unwell, then you should call up and ask to reschedule your hearing test. 

Bring plenty of information with you

Before your hearing is tested, it’s very likely that you’re going to be asked a range of questions, both in a written form and directly by the hearing health professional. You want to ensure that you’re giving accurate and detailed answers, so you should take the time to compile what information you think might be necessary before the appointment. This should include your medical history, what medications you’re taking (as some medication can affect hearing), any hearing health history for you and the family, as well as the symptoms that you are experinecing. Excess levels of noise are relevant as well, so if you have any loud hobbies or workplaces, keep that in mind.

Again, there’s not much to worry about when it comes to a hearing test. There are no “wrong answers.” However, the steps above can help you feel more prepared and ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.