Take Note of the Audiologist

You have an appointment for a hearing test, but you have a dilemma. You don’t feel confident that you’ll hear what the audiologist says. Of course you’re having a hearing test to correct this problem, but how can you take their advice if you don’t fully understand what’s being said?

Before offering practical solutions to this dilemma, here are some words of reassurance.

Audiologists are professionals who entered the field of hearing health because they want to make a difference. It goes with the territory that some patients struggle to hear, and your audiologist is an expert at overcoming this barrier. Also, audiologists are comfortable with the coping strategies mentioned below, so there is no need to feel self-conscious or embarrassed by taking common sense actions to get the most from your visit.

Before the Visit

Spare a little time ahead of the appointment in order to be organized and think around the issues.

• Visit or phone the audiologist’s office ahead of the visit: See how hearing-friendly the setup is and ask if you need to bring a friend to help.
• Consider asking a friend to accompany you: This isn’t just about hearing but also remembering everything that’s said. A friend can also give useful feedback about how suitable various options are for you.
• Paper and pen: Take along a paper and pen. You can use it to write down questions or ask the audiologist to write down technical words for future reference, or make a note of their suggestions.
• Brainstorm and write down questions: Think about what you want the visit to accomplish and make a note of those objectives. Then brainstorm any questions you have: anything from cost-related queries to the nature of your problem.

During the Visit

There’s no need to feel things are out of your control during the visit. Simply be clear about what it is you want to know as a result of the hearing test, and be certain to get those queries answered.

• Be clear: Don’t just nod and agree. If you aren’t certain what the audiologist said, then tell them. If necessary, ask them to write the advice down.
• Repeat back:  Repeat back to the audiologist what you think they said. This is a great way to make sure there are no misunderstandings.
• Ask questions and have a dialogue: Audiologists love questions! They want to understand what matters to you, and you are the best person to tell them. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions resulting from your brainstorming.

Three Key Questions:

If this is your first visit then you’ll want to know three key pieces of information:

• What type of hearing loss do I have?
• How is this correctable?
• What are the benefits of taking action?

Get answers to these three questions and you will have a lot of the important information youo will need to proceed.