Tips for Talking With Your Hearing Provider
Navigating hearing care with combined vision and hearing loss can be challenging, but when you and your provider work together, you’ll feel more empowered and confident in your treatment plan. This resource, adapted from the National Eye Institute, is designed to help you prepare for appointments and make sure you receive care that truly fits your unique needs.
From sharing information about your vision to asking the right questions about hearing aids, tests, and daily adjustments, these tips will guide you in advocating for yourself and getting the best possible support. Use these strategies to make the most of your appointments and find solutions that help you live more independently and confidently.
Share Information About Both Hearing and Vision
- It’s All Connected: Tell your provider about your visual condition, current vision status, and prognosis. This helps them tailor their recommendations to fit both your hearing and vision needs.
Plan Ahead to Make the Most of Your Appointment
- Write Down Your Questions: Bring a list of questions. It’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask, so planning ahead helps!
- Feel Free to Ask: It’s your provider’s job to answer questions, so don’t hesitate to ask and keep asking until you fully understand.
Key Questions to Ask
About Your Condition
- What hearing condition do I have, and what causes it?
- Will my condition affect my hearing in the future?
- How will my vision loss impact my treatment plan?
- Do I need to change anything in my daily routine?
About Tests
- Do I need any tests?
- What do you hope to find out?
- Are there any risks or side effects?
About Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices
- What hearing aids would work best for me?
- Which assistive listening devices would work well with my hearing aids?
- Can you email me the instruction manuals for easy access?
Keep Track of What You Learned
- Take Notes: Write down key points or use your phone to record the conversation.
- Bring a Support Person: A family member or friend can help take notes and ask questions.
- Ask for Printed Information: Your provider can print or email important instructions.
Additional Resources
- Hearing Loss Checklist: Helpful tools to prepare for your appointments.
- 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit: More tips on getting the best care.
