If you’ve been curious about your hearing health, scheduling your first hearing assessment can feel a bit daunting. If you’re finding it hard to hear in social settings, having trouble catching what your favourite TV character says, or simply wanting to be proactive about your hearing health, understanding what to expect can ease your nerves. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the entire process of a hearing assessment—from the moment you step into a HearCANADA centre, to your results. We’ll cover the types of assessments you might encounter, how to prepare for your visit, and what your next steps might be. By the end, you’ll feel informed and ready to take the next steps in your hearing health journey. Let’s dive in!

Come Prepared! To ensure a successful hearing assessment, bring the following: 

• Questions and Challenges: Prepare a list of questions for your hearing care professional. Additionally, come ready to share examples of challenging environments or situations you struggle to hear in most.
• Medical History and Medications: Bring along details of your medical history and a list of current medications, as this will help your hearing care professional understand your overall health. 
• Insurance Information: Have your ID and any health benefits, insurance details or pertinent paperwork relating to government programs with you. This will help your hearing care professional discuss your coverage
• Support Person: Consider bringing a trusted friend or family member to your appointment for added support and assistance in decision-making.

A Warm Welcome: When you arrive to your hearing assessment, you will first be greeted by our client care coordinator. They will check you in and provide you with any necessary intake forms to fill out. If you booked your appointment online, or by phone and provided your email, you may have received these forms ahead of time. If not, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to give yourself plenty of time to complete them.

Meeting your Hearing Care Professional: Once your appointment begins, your hearing care professional will greet you and take you to their office to discuss your medical history, questions you may have about your ears and any concerns about your hearing health. Next, they’ll prepare you for your hearing assessment by examining your ears for any blockages or abnormalities.

Hearing Test: Once your ears have been checked, you will enter the sound booth to begin your hearing assessment. In the sound booth you will be set up with earphones that will play various beeps and tones to assess your hearing levels. There will then be a variety of word tests that you’ll complete to validate the beeps and tones and further conclude your level of hearing loss, if any.

Results: Upon completion of your earing assessment, your hearing care professional will review your results with you and give you the opportunity to ask questions. From there, they will provide you with a recommended treatment plan which could include booking a follow-up appointment, doing a hearing device trial, or purchasing hearing devices if your results indicate a need for them.

Your first hearing assessment is an important step toward understanding and maintaining your hearing health. By familiarizing yourself with the process, you can approach your appointment with confidence and clarity. We hope this information equips you with the knowledge you need to make the most of your experience. Remember, taking care of your hearing is vital for overall well-being, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Let’s get started on your journey to better hearing!