How to Prepare for Your Appointment with an Audiologist

Hearing loss can have a tremendous effect on your life, hindering your ability to hear and speak to those around you and even taking part in your favorite activities. While it might not seem like a huge step, booking an appointment with an audiologist is a great first step in restoring your ability to hear, whether you are experiencing hearing loss or simply have an earwax impaction.

Your audiologist wants the same thing as you – to take steps in the right direction to treat your hearing loss and achieve the best possible hearing experience for you. Once you’ve made the appointment, you may be wondering what you can do to prepare for your visit with the audiologist to get the most out of the experience. Consider the following ways you can maximize your time with this professional:

Have your medical record handy

Your medical record can be extremely useful in situations like these because sometimes, underlying problems such as heart disease can cause hearing loss. Your audiologist will benefit from seeing your medical record and can use the information to better diagnose your hearing loss – giving you the chance to move onto the right treatment as soon as possible.

Make note of your medications

Sometimes medications – like antibiotics, NSAIDs and cancer drugs – can cause hearing loss. Your medical record usually contains your past and present medications, but it’s a good idea to take your own list with you, especially if you’re self-medicating with an over-the-counter medication.

Discover where you struggle the most

Take some time to think about where your hearing loss is. Are you finding it harder to understand conversations, or are you turning up the volume on your TV higher than normal? This will help your audiologist put together a better solution for your hearing loss. If you’re not sure exactly what the problem is, don’t worry! Your audiologist will work with you to find out where your problematic areas are.

Write down your questions

It’s completely normal to have worries and concerns. After all, hearing loss can be distressing, especially if it’s happened quickly. Write down any questions, worries or concerns you may have so that you can talk to your audiologist about them. They will be able to clearly explain why you’re experiencing hearing loss and a number of solutions that you can try out. 

Your lifestyle and hobbies

Experiencing hearing loss can dramatically change the way you live your life, especially if you’re someone who enjoys music, singing, playing an instrument or even a regular swimmer. All of these activities could be affected by hearing loss, and it’s understandable that you don’t want to give them up.

Your audiologist will be able to recommend treatment that will allow you to continue doing what you love. Not only that, by knowing your hobbies and lifestyle, your audiologist can work with you to preserve what hearing you have left.

Conduct research on treatment available

Researching your hearing loss before seeing an audiologist may give you the wrong impression about what to expect. However, there’s nothing wrong with researching types of hearing aids, or methods of clearing out the ear if it’s blocked by an object or build-up earwax. Knowing what kind of hearing aid, you’d prefer – if you should need one – allows you to talk with your audiologist about the outcome you’d like.

Depending on the severity of your hearing loss, you may have some freedom in choosing what kind of hearing aid would suit you best. For example, an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid is powerful and discreet, but not as powerful as a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. Your audiologist will be able to talk through your options with you.

Bring a loved one

Finally, bringing a loved one to your audiology appointment will not only provide you with moral support if you’re feeling nervous, but also bring an extra set of ears to take on information. You may receive confusing information about your options and your diagnosis, and having a loved one there to help absorb the information can really make a difference. Audiologists encourage patients to bring someone along for moral support!

Whether or not you decide to do preparation for your audiologist appointment, your audiologist will be able to work with you to determine the cause of your hearing loss. The more information you can provide, the easier the diagnosis will be! Most importantly, don’t worry! They will work hard to find a solution for you. For more information and advice, call Davis Audiology at (864) 810-6238