Preparing for your hearing appointment

Get ready to hear and live better

As you prepare to make an appointment with a hearing professional, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

First, find a hearing professional near your home or workplace. Getting treatment for hearing loss is an ongoing process, and you'll want to make the process as convenient as possible. Find a number of local hearing professionals, or you can call (888) 481-5512 for help.

Whether you're looking for a knowledgeable hearing professional in your area or simply gathering basic information about hearing loss, a phone call is a great first step. In either case, it’s important to work with a licensed, authorized hearing professional, and all of the professionals you’ll find here meet those qualifications.

What to expect

Many hearing professionals will ask you to complete some paperwork prior to your appointment. You may receive this paperwork by mail, and other providers will have you complete the paperwork when you get to your appointment. Be thorough when providing information about your medical history, especially if your hearing loss might be associated with another health problem or an injury.

If possible, bring a spouse, family member, or friend to the appointment with you. You’ll receive a great deal of information during your first appointment, and it can be helpful to have another person listening and taking notes. Seeing how you respond to a familiar voice throughout your appointment will also help the hearing professional understand more about your hearing loss.

During this initial hearing meeting, you and your hearing professional will decide if you need a full evaluation with a variety of hearing tests. Your hearing difficulty may be something as simple as earwax, or it may be a common age-related hearing loss. Either way, you'll find out exactly where you stand and what you can do about it.

You undoubtedly have lots of questions about hearing loss and your options for treatment. Be sure to write them down and bring the list to your appointment.

Here are some questions to help you get started:

• Do I have hearing loss, and if so, what type?
• Is it medically treatable?
• What are my treatment options?
• Can I prevent further hearing loss?
• Is there anything I can do on my own to hear better?

Your initial examination should take about an hour, but then you’ll have accomplished the most important step on your journey to better hearing! Call (888) 481-5512 or find a list of hearing professionals near you.