What to Expect at Your First Hearing Test

First of all, congratulations! Making the decision to do something about your hearing loss is the most important and, for many people, the hardest part. We understand that you may be feeling some anxiety around what to expect from your first hearing appointment, so we wanted to break down what a typical introductory visit looks like.

Scheduling your appointment

Most people find their audiologist through the recommendation of a friend or family member. If you know someone with a hearing aid, ask them. You can also turn to Google, or our Audiologist Partner directory. Hopefully, between all these resources, you'll find a clinic that feels like a good fit for you.

The initial hearing consultation usually lasts 1-2 hours, and you should probably get there early to fill out the normal paperwork - medical history, allergies, disclosures, all that fun stuff. Be prepared to discuss your hearing situation and how it has affected you and your family. Many people prefer to have a spouse, close friend, or family member with them as they talk through these issues.

The Hearing Test

Once your audiologist has had a chance to get to know you, it's time to test your hearing! The hearing test is actually a series of tests, where they will test you to see how well you hear certain pitches, frequencies, and words. There are a number of ways your audiologist can test you, but typically they'll ask you to wear headphones and respond to sounds or words that they play in your ear. Your audiologist will chart your results on an audiogram.

The results of these tests will tell you a lot about your hearing: whether you have hearing loss in one or both ears, how clearly you can understand speech, and possibly even the cause of your hearing loss.

If the tests indicate that you do have hearing loss and that you would benefit from a hearing instrument, you'll learn about the different options and what is right for you, your lifestyle, and your budget. You'll probably be surprised at how small, discreet, and - frankly - cool modern hearing instruments are.

What's Next?

If you do decide to move forward in exploring hearing instruments, you will likely have a few more consultations ahead of you where you look at different models, try one for a while, and optimize all the settings.

Once you've made your investment in the right hearing device, it's important to make sure that you take care of them properly. One of the best ways to protect your hearing device from damage by sweat, moisture, or dirt - and well as minimizing the sound of wind noise and the risk of losing the device - is by purchasing an Ear Gear hearing aid cover to protect your investment.

 

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