Tips for Communicating with Your Hearing Specialist and Getting the Most Out of Your Appointment

Clear communication is an essential ingredient in the recipe for a successful hearing examination. Before booking an appointment with your hearing specialist or audiologist it’s vital that you know how and what needs to be effectively communicated to the professional. Without clarity, it will be very difficult for you to gain the support that you require.

Experiencing hearing loss can naturally create challenges until you receive an accurate diagnosis and find the right hearing aids. Fortunately, by following these guidelines for communicating with your hearing specialist, you can significantly streamline the process of achieving your desired outcome.

Take a Loved One with You

Perhaps the most effective way to ensure that important advice will not be missed is to take a friend or relative with you. Any empathetic hearing specialist will be happy to let you do this, not least because it makes life easier for them too.

When you have an “extra pair of ears” to pick up anything you may have missed, your loved one can fill you in or confirm any major points from the appointment. Moreover, if you do miss something that is said, it won’t play on your mind. So, you can stay engaged throughout the rest of the appointment without distraction or worry.

Make Use of Visual Clues

If you do have hearing loss, even if currently undiagnosed, it’s likely that you have developed the ability to lip read. So, reading the hearing specialist’s lips can be a good way to ensure that you follow the conversation – although you’ll want to avoid this during examinations.

In addition to lip reading, you can make good use of body language. When it comes to your hearing test results, there will be visual representations like audiograms. Likewise, the hearing specialist will be able to show you various types of hearing aids – like behind the ear (BTE), in the canal (ITC) or in the ear (ITE) – to help you understand things even when you can’t hear everything.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Audiologist to Repeat Instructions

The thought of asking someone to repeat themselves may fill you with some feelings of embarrassment. In reality, though, your audiologist is asked to repeat themselves every single day. It is a part of their job and there should be no awkwardness if you need to ask.

Similarly, you should not feel bad if it is necessary to ask them to speak slower or louder. The hearing specialist will want you to feel comfortable, which means ensuring that you can take in as much info as possible. Besides, your honesty during the interactions will give further insight into the severity of your hearing loss to aid the diagnosis process.

Be Patient

Patience is one of the key qualities that you should look for in an audiologist but it is an equally important skill for you to possess at this time. The lack of communication can be frustrating for both parties, but patience will push you through the problems.

The audiologist may have to make adjustments to facilitate smooth communication. They are experts, so you can trust them to find the best solution. Meanwhile, you should take a second to think about what you want to see. It needs to be a two-way dialogue, which is why what you say is virtually as important as what you hear. Again, it will help the hearing specialist.

Come with a List of Questions Ready

Preparing a list of questions ahead of your appointment with an audiologist is a proactive step that can greatly enhance your experience. Firstly, having a well-organized list ensures that you won’t forget any crucial inquiries during the consultation. Some questions you may consider asking include:

• Can you explain the specific type and degree of my hearing loss?
• What are the available treatment options for my hearing condition?
• How can hearing aids or other devices improve my hearing and daily life?
• Are there any strategies or practices I can adopt to better manage my hearing health on a daily basis?

This will allow you to address your specific concerns and gather comprehensive information about your hearing health. Presenting your questions to the audiologist enables them to tailor their responses to your unique needs, leading to more personalized guidance. Lastly, it demonstrates your proactive engagement in your healthcare journey, fostering a collaborative and informative dialogue between you and the audiologist.

While all of the above tips will help you get the most out of your appointment, it’s equally vital that you choose the right audiologist. Here at Brentwood Hearing Center, we pride ourselves on world-class audiology underpinned by a comfortable experience for all patients. To book an appointment with a hearing specialist today, call us now at (615) 866-0431.