When you have an issue with your hearing or balance an audiologist can help to identify and treat your condition. Audiologists can support your hearing health in several ways including performing hearing tests, fitting hearing aids and providing educational info. These health professionals can also support patients with balance disorders and tinnitus symptoms. To prepare for your appointment with an audiologist, follow the guidance below.

Bring your medical info 

If you have an existing medical condition, it’s advisable to bring any information you have on this. Give your audiologist details of any medication you take and provide them with your doctor's contact details. You can also show your audiologist any medical records that you have, ensuring that they have a full picture of your health.

Define your hearing problems

Before you go to visit your audiologist it’s a good idea to define your hearing problems. Write down the issues you are experiencing, to help you give an accurate description. The more detail that you can give, the easier it will be for your audiologist to help you. It may be helpful to consider the following pointers:

  • Do you struggle to hear conversations when there’s lots of background noise?
  • Do you struggle to hear clearly when you’re talking on the phone?
  • Have you ever experienced ringing or clicking sounds in your ears?

Think of any questions you have

To get the most out of your audiology appointment you might like to think of a few questions that you can ask. Here are a few example questions for some inspiration:

  • Is there anything I can do to stop my hearing loss from getting worse?
  • What treatment options are available for hearing loss?
  • How do hearing aids work to improve hearing loss?
  • Which is the best type of hearing aid?

Getting the information you need can help you to feel more at ease about the treatments you’ll receive.

Research hearing tests

You might find it comforting to read up on the different types of hearing tests, and what these tests involve. You’ll be pleased to know that hearing tests are both non-invasive and painless. Your audiologist will ask you to wear soft earplugs or headphones, linked up to an audiometer. 
A hearing test usually consists of two parts, speech audiometry and pure-tone audiometry. Speech audiometry uses recorded speech and assesses the quietest sounds that you can hear. Pure-tone audiometry involves listening to different volumes and pitches. Your audiologist will measure the frequency you can hear and the softest sounds.

Extra support

Bring a family member or a friend to your appointment, this will give you a little extra support. It can be helpful to have another person present to take in all the information and to remind you of any questions you forget to ask. Having problems with your hearing may cause you a little anxiety, so it can be nice to have someone there to support you.