Most of us don’t enjoy taking trips to the doctor’s office. But as we get older, regular visits to the doctor are even more crucial to keeping our health in check. At the same time, however, we are also more likely to acquire age-related hearing loss.
One in three people between ages 65 and 74 have hearing loss, while nearly half of those over 75 have difficulty hearing. If you are one of these individuals with hearing loss, you know that it can present difficulties communicating with others.
With that in mind, communicating your health concerns to your doctor is often less than enjoyable. But when you have hearing loss, you may struggle to even hear the questions your doctor asks or what medications he prescribes.
To make those trips to the doctor a bit easier, try following these 3 tips.
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Find a doctor with an online appointment system.
With hearing loss, half of the battle of visiting the doctor can be making the appointment. Hearing loss can make phone calls particularly difficult. Especially if you find yourself consistently needing to reschedule appointments, the task can become even more tiresome.
Thanks to technology, you can avoid this scenario. Many doctors now have online scheduling systems that allow you to schedule, cancel, or reschedule appointments from home.
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Let your doctor know about your hearing loss.
Hearing loss is not a visible impairment. In this way, until you try to communicate with someone, you may be able to keep it a secret. But in situations where communication is vital, you should immediately inform the person you’re communicating with of your hearing impairment.
To do so, the Hearing Loss Association of American recommends filling out a Communication Action Plan form. You can bring this form to your first appointment with your doctor. By doing so, you’ll alert the receptionist and other medical staff of your hearing impairment. That way, they can make the necessary accommodations to best assist you during your visits.
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Explain the best ways to communicate with you.
Most importantly, you should be upfront with others and explain the best ways to communicate with you. While all cases of hearing loss are different, most people with hearing loss have similar preferences. Some may include:
- Remind the doctor to make eye contact with you.
- Ask them to refrain from raising their voice. Instead, encourage them to speak clearly.
- Request for important information (future appointment times, directions for taking medication, etc.) to be written down.
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Purchase a pair of hearing aids.
If you have untreated hearing loss, purchasing hearing aids could make your trips to the doctor a bit easier. Not only that, but they can help to reduce your chances of experiencing dementia and improve your overall quality of life.
At Advanced Affordable Hearing, we strive to help people like you to hear better at a price you can afford. To start your journey to hearing better, visit our online hearing check. Once you have a better sense of your type of hearing loss, you can select the appropriate hearing aid for you.
If you have any further questions, contact us now.