Football games with Ted are the worst. Paying attention to the game is impossible because the volume is turned up so loud that the walls shake. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting roar of the crowd.
It’s not pleasant. But the volume seems normal for Ted. He needs the TV to be incredibly loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty clear he needs a hearing aid. How to talk to him about it is the difficulty. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more challenging.
These tips are a good place to start.
Suggest a Basic Screening
Ted has to find out more about his hearing from an expert. Other people might not sound as credible when they tell him about it. If that’s the case, the trick will be convincing Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following tactics may help you do that:
- Suggest the two of you go together for back-to-back assessments. This can make beginning the conversation easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, as well (it could depend on how long you’ve been exposed to a high-volume noise).
- Stress that he’ll only be undergoing a simple assessment. In the vast majority of cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. Ted will get his results on an audiogram, which will break down his hearing by frequency. The significance of the results can then be clarified by us.
Comment on Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently indiscernible because it progresses so gradually. When this happens, you may pick up certain behaviors without recognizing it. By focusing your discussion on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try something like the following:
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or understand it, and you have to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends by phone because he has trouble hearing what’s being said.
- Letting him know that his family has noticed him straining to hear. Perhaps that’s why fewer individuals are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a difficult time dealing with the loud television.
When you have these conversations focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the goal. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
In some cases, reluctance to wearing hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) impressions of what hearing aids do and how they affect one’s personal appearance. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other added features.
- Modern hearing aids have a huge amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your TV speakers. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be increased without feedback and noise.
- Modern hearing aids are typically extremely small and almost totally unseen to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are extremely useful pieces of technology that help you enjoy live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to mention the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been demonstrated to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. To put it bluntly, hearing is crucial to a person’s cognitive health.
You will keep more of your hearing undamaged in the long run if you manage your hearing loss as soon as you can. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a hard time processing particular wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. When you simply turn the volume up you don’t fill in the particular frequencies that are missing.
Recognizing that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable getting the help they need.