How You Should Prepare for a Hearing Test
When you want to identify hearing loss and the type you're suffering from, a hearing test is often your first option. You may schedule this via your local ENT team, or your GP could refer you to an audiologist. In either case, there are some ways you can prepare for your test.
Be Honest About Key Events
As with any other area of medicine, giving your clinical team the right information makes it easier for them to form a diagnosis. For example, if you routinely ignore your loud music warning on your phone, this could indicate to your ENT team that your lifestyle makes hearing loss more likely. Similarly, if you had measles as a child, there's a stronger chance of you losing your hearing as an adult. Handing over a thorough medical history helps your clinical team understand what they're looking for. As a result, they may find it easier to interpret your findings and form a plan.
Don't Attend While Unwell
While this may seem like common sense advice, it can also feel tempting to attend hearing test appointments when you have a mild cold or sinus problems. Unfortunately, while such issues may seem mild they can also increase the amount of fluid that rests in your ear(s). Your test will involve investigating different parts of your ears. If there is fluid there, the results won't represent your usual ear structure. As such, they won't be accurate enough for you to benefit from an appropriate treatment plan. If you do have a cold or sinus issues, reschedule your appointment when it clears up.
Avoid Loud Noises Ahead of the Test
Exposing yourself to loud noises can result in a temporary reduction in your hearing quality. As with being sick, this may mean that the results of your hearing test don't represent your usual physical state. Loud noise exposure can happen easier than you think. For example, attending a concert or listening to music via headphones on full blast can temporarily reduce your hearing quality. To avoid issues, stay away from loud noise exposure in the 24 hours before your test. You may also want to talk to your ENT team about whether the number of loud noises you encounter could pose problems.
Finally, make sure you adhere to any guidelines your ENT team sends ahead of your test. By doing so, you'll avoid inaccurate results and the need to go back for another one.