What to Expect During Your First Hearing Care Appointment

First-Time Hearing Aid User Series – Part 1

Hello, Integrity Hearing readers! This is Phi Huynh, Integrity’s ‘new’ Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS).

In my 10+ years of experience, I have worked with hundreds of different patients and their families. Circumstances may differ, but one common theme I’ve seen time and time again is the apprehension people feel at their first appointment. In fact, it can take a hearing aid candidate anywhere from 5 to 10 years after realizing they have a problem before they even make that initial appointment!

So, you’ve made that first appointment—Here's what to expect during your first hearing care appointment:

The Paperwork

As with any medical appointment, you’ll need to fill out some necessary paperwork. This generally includes your personal information (such as phone number, full name, etc.), along with medical questions related to your hearing, like your previous work history and medications.

You may also find questions about your hearing, such as whether it has suddenly worsened on one side, if you experience pain in your ears, or if you hear ringing. Don’t let these questions alarm you—they’re simply standard questions to help guide your appointment and ensure your hearing care professional can provide the best assistance.

If you have any trouble with the paperwork, don’t worry! We are happy to help in any way, even reading the forms to you if needed.

What About Insurance?

Hearing care is improving every year, and more insurance providers are offering better coverage, even if it’s just for testing. It’s always a good idea to check whether your insurance offers any hearing-related benefits. A little coverage can go a long way, and we’ll do our best to help you navigate this process.

That said, every insurance provider has different rules and processes, so each case is unique. Calling your provider beforehand is always a good idea to stay informed.

What Happens Next?

After completing the paperwork, you’ll meet with one of our hearing professionals. Don’t expect to start the test right away—we first review your paperwork and discuss your answers. Occasionally, though rarely, we may need to refer you to an ENT if we notice any concerns, such as pain or sudden hearing loss. While this may feel like an extra step, it’s important to address any issues promptly. The sooner you’re seen, the better!

Assuming everything is clear, we’ll then examine your ears. This is primarily to check for any earwax buildup that could be blocking your eardrum. Some earwax is normal, but excessive buildup can interfere with the hearing test results and contribute to hearing loss.

If you have excessive earwax, we may attempt removal if we believe we can do so safely. However, if the wax is too hard or deeply lodged, it may cause discomfort during removal. In such cases, we’ll recommend you visit your primary care physician or an ENT who has specialized equipment to remove it safely. You can always reschedule your hearing test with us afterward—even if your hearing improves after wax removal. Remember, our goal is to assess your actual hearing ability.

On to the Test!

Now, we proceed with the hearing test. Your hearing professional will explain everything in detail and determine whether to use headphones or insert earphones. Most of the time, we use insert earphones as they provide the best results, but we may use headphones if necessary.

You can expect the following types of tests:

Tympanometry

Tone Test

Speech Test

Tympanometry

In Tympanometry (or tymps), a probe is put into the entrance of your ear canal. You may feel a light pressure as the seal is created and you may hear a light buzzing. The purpose of this test is to see how much movement your eardrum makes, which can help indicate to us if there’s any fluid behind your eardrum that would affect your hearing and possibly show up on your test.

Tone Test

The tone test is your standard type of hearing test, you will hear a series of tones at varying pitches and volumes. Follow the instructions given to you by your hearing professional. This test helps us find the quietest sound you can hear. Don’t worry about guessing, we will always double check the results, just do your best to respond.

Speech Test

And finally, the speech test, we may ask you to repeat words as you hear them and the volume may change as the test proceeds. Like the tone test, do your best and don’t worry about if you got the right answer or not. We will always double and triple check!

Occasionally, you may hear static or wind-like noise, which we will inform you about beforehand. This is used to distract one ear during the test. Simply follow our instructions and do your best!

Post-Test: Reviewing the Results

Once testing is complete, we’ll review your results with you in a clear and understandable way. This is the perfect time to ask any questions! If you brought a family member or friend, they’re welcome to ask questions too.

What If I’m Not a Hearing Aid Candidate?

If you are not a hearing aid candidate, it could be for several reasons, the most common being that you don’t have significant hearing loss. If that’s the case—congratulations! We still recommend coming in for a hearing test every 1 to 2 years to monitor any changes, especially for those over 50, as hearing can decline with age.

What If I Am a Hearing Aid Candidate?

If you are a hearing aid candidate, fret not! We will guide you through the process of hearing aid selection and how to adjust to your new hearing life. In part 2, so stay tuned!

Phi Huynh

Hearing Instrument Specialist