Watching sports with Ted is extremely frustrating. He has the volume turned up so loud the walls rattle, and you surely can’t pay attention to the game. All you notice is the roar of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the commentator’s play-by-play calls.
It’s not fun. But for Ted, the volume is normal. Everything needs to be at top volume in order for him to be able to hear it, making it pretty obvious 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 much more challenging.
These tips are a good place to start.
You Can Suggest he Gets a Simple Hearing Exam
Ted needs an expert to inform him about his hearing. He may not trust other people when they inform him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, the trick will be getting Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You might be able to accomplish that by making use of one of the following tactics:
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. We can explain what the results indicate.
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make starting the dialogue easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, also (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud noise).
Chat About Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it progresses so gradually. When this occurs, you might acquire certain behaviors without knowing it. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try something like the following:
- Letting him know that his family has observed him straining to hear. Maybe that’s why fewer individuals are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a difficult time coping with the loud television.
- Point out situations where you have to translate what someone said. Here’s a hypothetical example: somebody is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to keep repeating what was said because he can’t hear them.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends on the phone because he has trouble hearing what’s being said.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Emphasize The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
In some instances, reluctance to wearing hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) notions 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 used by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Typically, modern hearing aids are so small you can’t even notice them. Not only that, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for example, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your TV speakers. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be increased without noise and feedback.
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are very 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 benefits of hearing aids, which have been shown to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. To put it bluntly, hearing is essential to a person’s mental health.
The sooner you address your hearing loss, the more hearing you’re likely to keep over time. 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. Simply turning up your TV isn’t a substitute for this valuable technology.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.