Why do I need support at a hearing consultation?

When you book a hearing consultation with us, we will ask you if you’re able to have some support at the appointment. A lot of the time people say they are fine by themselves and don’t need assistance in making decisions. Here, we’ll explain why it’s not necessarily decision making you need the support for.

Why do I need a loved one for support at my hearing test?

The very main reason we advise that you have some support from a family member at your appointment is for a familiar voice. Your Audiologist can see how well you respond to the familiar voice. We all have different accents and variations in our speech so it is often easier to understand speech in a familiar voice. This is a good way of testing your hearing. It’s also useful to have a familiar voice when trialling a hearing aid if you do have a hearing loss.

Whilst a familiar voice is a great help, the emotional support that a family member or close friend can provide is so important. It is not always easy to come to terms with the fact you have a hearing loss and so having a loved one with you can make you feel supported. Deciding to go ahead with private healthcare is also a very personal decision and you may wish to discuss your options with your loved ones before making a decision. If you have them present at your appointment, it will avoid any delays in getting your hearing aids ordered.

Do I really need a hearing test?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, you should probably get yourself booked in for a hearing test:

• Asking people to repeat themselves often
• Finding group conversations difficult to follow
• Having difficulty understanding people on the phone
• People commenting on how loud the TV or radio is
• Struggling with conversations when there is a high level of background noise, particularly in cafes or restaurants
• Feeling like people are always mumbling when they’re talking to you
• Finding it tricky to establish the direction a sound is coming from
• Avoiding social situations because you are worried you won’t keep up with the conversation
• People in your life, especially those closest to you, have suggested you have a hearing loss

A hearing test is entirely painless, very easy and quick to do. A hearing loss can become worse the longer it is left untreated, so the sooner you do something about it, the better for your hearing health. If you would like to discuss our hearing consultation process further, or are interested in having your hearing checked, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.