I have to take a hearing test?

You are sitting in the audiologist office ready for your first hearing check. You might be nervous. You don’t know what to expect.

Here are five tips for when you take your first hearing test (or your 500th!)

1. Be honest. You’re only hurting yourself if you aren’t. And if you aren’t, your audiologist will probably know.

2. Make sure you understand the test. Your audiologist will most likely explain everything in detail, but if they don’t or if you are still confused, ask.

3. Don’t overthink it. The first test will probably be a test where you will push a button whenever you hear a noise (usually a beep sound). If you hear a beep, push the button. Easy as that. Sometimes you think it’s been too long since you’ve heard a beep, or you think you heard one too quickly after the last one. Don’t confuse yourself or overthink it. Your audiologist is not trying to trick you.

4. Be prepared for anything. If you are taking a hearing test, it’s most likely because it’s a possibility that you have a hearing loss. So, don’t be surprised if you do. It may be helpful to bring a parent, friend, or spouse with you for support.

5. Take action. If you have a hearing loss, discuss with your audiologist what you should do next.

6. (Bonus tip) Keep your copy of the test. It's helpful to look back later to see how your hearing has changed and/or got worse.

A hearing test is the first step to hearing better again. Once you have hearing aids, take a look here for tips on wearing our hearing aids for the first time. Also, keep in mind that hearing tests are usually free, so there is no excuse to wait to get your hearing checked.

#hearingtest #audiologist