What are 5 things that will be Discussed during Your first Hearing Test Appointment?

After you schedule an appointment for your hearing test, it is always nice to prepare yourself for what’s next. 

The process will be a little different based on which facility you go to, but the basic things to know is that you will undergo a hearing evaluation, the results will be discussed with you, and the person who provides the hearing test will go over your treatment options.

1. Intake forms

Like most healthcare appointments, there will be some paperwork to complete when you arrive at your initial appointment. Hearing healthcare providers are trained to evaluate your hearing and find out if your hearing problems are the result of a medical condition. If it is caused by a medical condition, you may be referred to the appropriate medical professional.

You may be asked about insurance information, medical history, a list of medications that you take, and ear-related symptoms/history.

2. You will talk about Your Hearing Health Concerns and Communication Issues

The hearing professional will learn about the range of hearing loss from your test results. This is why a consultation is crucial. Most of the questions will be about your hearing, your lifestyle, and what you are hoping to get out of heathier hearing abilities.   
 
This is when you describe the problems that you have with hearing, environments/situations that you find challenging to hear in, and what you would like to be able to hear clearer. It’s also a moment when you can ask questions about your hearing loss.

3. There will be a Visual Inspection of Your Ears 

Your hearing healthcare provider will examine your ear canals with an otoscope. They will check for anything unusual or possible medical conditions that may be causing your hearing problems. 

Or, you may have impacted earwax which can obstruct your ability to hear or prevent an accurate assessment of your hearing. If this is the issue, they can safely remove whatever is obstructing your canal(s).    

4. The Hearing Test

The process of testing your hearing may be different based on the clinic, your specific hearing problems, and concerns. This might include:

• A pressure test is used to determine the flexibility of your eardrum, along with its ability to transmit sounds.
• A pure-tone audiometry test measures how soft tones in different pitches can be heard. It is then recorded on an audiogram. 
• A speech test is when you are asked to repeat the words and/or sentences that are heard at different volume levels.
  
  

5. Go over the results

After the test, the hearing care provider will talk about your results and recommend treatment options based on the test and your concerns that were discussed during the consultation. 

You may be referred to your primary care physician, or an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist (ENT). You may be recommended to schedule another hearing test in a few months, a year, or as soon as you start to notice more hearing loss/problems. 

If hearing loss or tinnitus is the result of your test, you may be recommended hearing aids, an assistive listening device, or using sound therapy if you have tinnitus. 

Getting an annual hearing test should be standard at every yearly health exam, but they normally are not. Most general healthcare providers will not bring up hearing health concerns, so if you have a concern or want a hearing test you need to let your healthcare provider know.

You can always contact the Pure Sound Hearing office to schedule an appointment for a free hearing test and consultation. We have offices located in Elizabethtown, Lititz, and Strasburg. 

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