How to Prepare for Your Appointment with an Audiologist

Scheduling an appointment to see an audiologist is a big step to help you address any hearing issues you’re experiencing. Both you and your audiologist want the very same outcome, not just from this first appointment but for appointments and treatments to come in the future. They want to achieve the best possible hearing experience for you. Your audiologist knows what they are looking for and are highly trained to give you advice on hearing aids and treatments that may help you to experience better hearing, which in turn, could enable you to get back some normality in your life. 

However, being as prepared as possible for your appointment with an audiologist is going to benefit you greatly. Having a detailed background and information to look at can provide your audiologist with the very best chance of recommending an appropriate hearing aid or path to enable you to improve your hearing. While your audiologist will guide and support you through the process, it is always a good idea to be prepared beforehand. So, what does that mean in practical terms? Here are some of the ways that you can best prepare for your appointment with an audiologist. 

Prepare a list of medications that you take

A great tip initially is to list any medications that you regularly take. Some medications can actually be the cause of hearing loss, and your audiologist will be able to recognize the possibility of this. They will talk with you about any potential medications you should speak to your physician about.

Have your medical records on hand to guide your audiologist 

There is no denying that some conditions you already may be experiencing can have an impact on your hearing. These include things such as diabetes and heart disease. Your audiologist will benefit from knowing as much information about your medical history as possible. They will use the medical background information to put together a picture of what your hearing health is, what it has been and what it may be in the future as well. This can help identify issues that you have that could be having a negative impact on your hearing loss. 

What sort of lifestyle do you lead and what are your hobbies?

How do you like to spend your spare time? Is that singing in a choir, watching films, going out or even swimming and getting regular exercise? Your hobbies can have an impact on your hearing, particularly if you are exposed to loud noises. Your audiologist will want to know the kinds of activities you enjoy, not only to treat your hearing ghost but to help preserve and protect the ability so that you can continue to do these things. 

What are your trouble spots?

What part of your hearing do you find the most difficult? Examples could include whether you struggle to hear because of background noise, have difficulty talking and hearing on the phone or you can’t hear people who sit in the back of the car. Enabling your audiologist to create a picture of what your hearing is like day-to-day can help them to understand the situation and better recommend a solution for it. 

What are your concerns and worries?

Not everyone will have worries or concerns, but you are likely to have some ongoing questions. So, it may be worth brainstorming these and writing them down so you are less likely to forget in the appointment. The audiologist will be the exact person that you want to answer these things and to help put your mind at rest. 

Do your research before the appointment 

While you shouldn’t feel worried about researching and knowing all of the facts when it comes to the types of hearing aids there are, it is worth looking online and doing a little research so that you know what you like and dislike. This can help in the appointment to save time on looking at solutions that you will know won’t be suitable. Your audiologist will want to take into account your preferences and concerns. Although this isn’t essential as they will be happy to discuss all of the options available. 

Ask a friend or family member to come with you 

Last of all, it might be worth asking a friend or family member to come with you to the appointment. When it comes to learning about hearing loss and hearing aids, having another pair of ears on hand to take in valuable information will be useful. 

Whatever preparation you do or don’t do, know that your audiologist is there to help. If you would like to arrange an appointment then you can get in touch with Hear Here Audiology at 727-289-1212.