Over time, you may have realised that you have a problem with your hearing. What was once an easy activity – listening to the car radio, watching TV, answering the phone – may have become much more difficult. It may even be impossible. When you know that something is wrong, the first step is to get your hearing tested and make an appointment to see a specialist in hearing, who can work out exactly what is going wrong, and offer solutions to help prevent or at least slow down any further hearing loss.
Making the appointment is a fantastic way to begin, but there is something else you will need to consider; who are you going to bring with you to the appointment? It’s highly recommended that you do bring someone with you – a family member or trusted friend, perhaps – for a number of reasons; read on and you’ll see what they are.
Better Insight
You will be asked many questions during your initial consultation to work out just what has happened to cause problems with your hearing. Your hearing professional will want to know when the problems started, how you first noticed them, what impact the issue is having on your life, and more. You’ll be able to answer some of these questions, but others will be harder to think about, and having someone with you who knows you well can certainly help.
Even if you don’t remember when you started having to watch TV at a louder volume, they might. They might remember specific incidents that prove when the hearing problems began, or what they are doing to your life, and all of this information can give your expert hearing consultant a better insight into what is happening.
All The Information
As with anything that impacts our health, there is sure to be a lot of information given out at a consultation regarding your hearing loss. There are many different options that can be discussed, and even if you simply opt for hearing aids, the various types and their many features can feel overwhelming when you first start learning about them after having your hearing tested.
Having someone with you means that you have someone to bounce ideas off. Plus, even if you didn’t catch all of the information being offered, having someone else there means that there is more chance of getting the full picture.
They Are Involved
No matter who you are, you are not going through this hearing issue alone. You might think that it is all about you and what you think and feel – and that is hugely important, of course – but there is more to it than that; it is impacting everyone around you, particularly those who care about you. Having someone at your appointment who can explain just what your loss of hearing is doing to the family and to your social life is a useful addition indeed.
Not only that, but this will be their chance to explain how they are feeling about everything too. They may not have felt comfortable talking to you about their worries and concerns at home, but in a professional environment they can speak calmly and easily, letting you know what they are feeling. This will help you to understand more about what is happening, and will even strengthen relationships. It all starts with simply getting your hearing tested.
