Watching sports with Ted is very frustrating. Paying attention to the game is impossible because the volume is turned up so loud that the walls rattle. All you notice is the thunder of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the announcer’s play-by-play calls.
It’s not fun. But the volume seems fine for Ted. Everything needs to be at max volume in order for him to hear it, making it pretty apparent that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to discuss this with him is the difficulty. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more challenging.
The following are some tips that could help.
You Can Suggest he Gets a Simple Hearing Evaluation
Ted needs an expert to inform him about his hearing. Other people may not seem as credible when they tell him about it. If that’s the case, the strategy will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies may help you do that:
- Suggest the two of you go together for back-to-back screenings. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. You may find out that you also have some level of hearing impairment (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud sound).
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In the vast majority of cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. Ted will receive his results on an audiogram, which will analyze his hearing by frequency. The significance of the results can then be broken down by us.
Comment on Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss occurs gradually, often advancing so slowly it’s not noticeable. When this happens, you may acquire certain behaviors without recognizing it. By focusing your conversation on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try some of these strategies:
- Remind Him that he’s not talking on the phone as much as he once did because he has a hard time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- You could tell him your family has observed he’s been having a difficult time hearing. Perhaps that’s why fewer people are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a difficult time dealing with the loud television.
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It might happen like this: your friend says something at dinner, Ted doesn’t hear or understand it, and you need to repeat what they said to Ted because you’re closer to him.
The goal during these conversations is to keep your discussion centered on these behaviors rather than the ailment. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
In some instances, reluctance to using hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) impressions of what hearing aids do and how they influence one’s personal appearance. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and render them in real time as well as other added features.
- Modern hearing aids carry a huge amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. This provides amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
- Modern hearing aids are usually very small and almost entirely unseen to the naked eye. That’s not all, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They’re not bulky like they once were. Most individuals will most likely never detect you’re wearing them.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are exceptionally useful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy live streaming.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to point out the long-term benefits of hearing aids, which have been demonstrated to help people keep (or recover) their cognitive faculties. To put it bluntly, hearing is crucial to a person’s cognitive health.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you treat your hearing loss as soon as you can. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a difficult 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 specific missing frequencies.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.