diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
index 1f29cf7928..5bb73cb42d 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     Stageable,
     Subscribable,
 )
+from event_model.documents import DocumentType
 
 from .async_status import AsyncStatus
 from .device import Device
@@ -58,7 +59,6 @@ def __init__(
         self, backend: SignalBackend[T], timeout: Optional[float] = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
     ) -> None:
         self._name = ""
-        self._long_name = None
         self._timeout = timeout
         self._init_backend = self._backend = backend
 
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ def set_sim_callback(signal: Signal[T], callback: ReadingValueCallback[T]) -> No
     return _sim_backends[signal].set_callback(callback)
 
 
-async def verify_readable(
+async def _verify_readings(
     func: Callable[[], dict[str, Any] | Awaitable[dict[str, Any]]],
     expectation: Dict[str, Any],
 ) -> None:
@@ -269,23 +269,33 @@ async def verify_readable(
         result = func()
 
     for signal in expectation:
-        for field in expectation[signal]:
-            if field == "timestamp":
-                assert isinstance(result[signal]["timestamp"], float)
-            else:
-                assert result[signal][field] == expectation[signal][field]
+        assert result[signal] == expectation[signal]
 
 
 async def assert_value(signal: SignalR[T], value: T) -> None:
-    """Assert a signal value"""
+    """Assert a signal value
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    signal:
+        Call get_valueand and compare it with expected value.
+    value: 
+        the expected value from the signal. 
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    Example usage::
+        await assert_reading(signal, value)
+    
+    
+    """
     assert await signal.get_value() == value
 
 
 async def assert_reading(
     readable: Readable, reading: Dict[str, Reading] | dict[str, dict[str, Any]]
 ) -> None:
-    """Assert readable by calling verify_readable"""
-    await verify_readable(readable.read, reading)
+    """Assert readable by calling_verify_readings"""
+    await _verify_readings(readable.read, reading)
 
 
 async def assert_configuration(
@@ -293,11 +303,11 @@ async def assert_configuration(
     configuration: Dict[str, Reading] | dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
 ) -> None:
     """Assert readable generated by configurable.read_configuration
-    using verify_readable"""
-    await verify_readable(configurable.read_configuration, configuration)
+    using _verify_readings"""
+    await _verify_readings(configurable.read_configuration, configuration)
 
 
-def assert_emitted(docs: Dict[str, list], **numbers: int):
+def assert_emitted(docs: Dict[str, list[DocumentType]], **numbers: int):
     """Assert emitted"""
     assert list(docs) == list(numbers)
     assert {name: len(d) for name, d in docs.items()} == numbers
diff --git a/tests/core/test_signal.py b/tests/core/test_signal.py
index fbc60c531a..f0d5559553 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_signal.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_signal.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import re
 import time
+from unittest.mock import ANY
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ async def test_assert_value(sim_signal: SignalRW):
 async def test_assert_reaading(sim_signal: SignalRW):
     set_sim_value(sim_signal, 888)
     dummy_reading = {
-        "sim_signal": {"alarm_severity": 0, "timestamp": 46709394.28, "value": 888}
+        "sim_signal": {"alarm_severity": 0, "timestamp": ANY, "value": 888}
     }
     await assert_reading(sim_signal, dummy_reading)
 
@@ -180,12 +181,12 @@ async def test_assert_configuration(sim_readable: DummyReadable):
     dummy_config_reading = {
         "sim_readable-mode": {
             "alarm_severity": 0,
-            "timestamp": 123.2,
+            "timestamp": ANY,
             "value": "super mode",
         },
         "sim_readable-mode2": {
             "alarm_severity": 0,
-            "timestamp": 123.2,
+            "timestamp": ANY,
             "value": "slow mode",
         },
     }
@@ -195,8 +196,8 @@ async def test_assert_configuration(sim_readable: DummyReadable):
 
     something = DetWithConf(name="det")
     dummy_config_reading1 = {
-        "det_c": {"value": 3, "timestamp": 171},
-        "det_d": {"value": 4, "timestamp": 1753},
+        "det_c": {"value": 3, "timestamp": ANY},
+        "det_d": {"value": 4, "timestamp": ANY},
     }
 
     await assert_configuration(something, dummy_config_reading1)